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Myanmar military won’t allow ASEAN envoy to meet Suu Kyi
A delay in the United Nations approving the military government’s UN ambassador nomination was politically motivated, spokesman Zaw Min Tun added, saying the UN and other countries and organizations “should avoid double standards when they are engaging in international affairs”.
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yanmar’s ruling military has not blocked a special Southeast Asian envoy from visiting the country but will not allow him to meet detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, because she is charged with crimes, the junta’s spokesman said.
A delay in the United Nations approving the military government’s UN ambassador nomination was politically motivated, spokesman Zaw Min Tun added, saying the UN and other countries and organizations “should avoid double standards when they are engaging in international affairs”.
The spokesman’s remarks, issued by the military in a summary dated Wednesday, come as international pressure builds on the junta to implement a five-point peace plan its top general Min Aung Hlaing agreed to in April with ASEAN.
Myanmar has been in political and economic paralysis since the military’s Feb. 1 coup, which triggered an outpouring of anger and protest that has not abated, with some civilians forming militias to take on the powerful army.
The junta’s inaction on the ASEAN plan was “tantamount to backtracking” and some member countries were “deep in discussions” about excluding Min Aung Hlaing from a summit this month, Erywan Yusof, the bloc’s special envoy, said last week.
Erywan earlier this week said he was in consultations with parties in Myanmar, did not take sides or political positions and looked forward to a visit.
The junta spokesman also insisted Myanmar’s judicial system was fair and independent would handle Aung San Suu Kyi’s case accordingly, adding the chief justice was appointed by the previous government.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers will discuss excluding Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing from a coming regional summit at a meeting on Friday, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.
Several members of ASEAN have strongly criticized the military government’s inaction on a five-point plan that it agreed to with the bloc in April, centring on dialogue among all parties, humanitarian access and an end of hostilities.
Friday’s previously unscheduled, virtual meeting will be hosted by current ASEAN chair, Brunei, said the sources based in ASEAN member countries, who included a diplomat and another government official.
Myanmar’s military spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not respond to calls seeking comment on the meeting. Brunei’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to an emailed request for comment.
Erywan last week confirmed some members had been "deep in discussions" about not inviting the coup leader to the Oct. 26-28 virtual summit.
He said the junta's lack of commitment to the process was "tantamount to backtracking".
Erywan's office declined to comment on Friday's meeting.
Myanmar, with a long history of military dictatorship and international allegations of systematic human rights abuses, has been ASEAN's trickiest issue since the group was formed in 1967, testing the limits of its unity and its policy of noninterference.
The UN, the United States and China, among others, have backed ASEAN's efforts to find a diplomatic solution, but pressure on the group has mounted in recent months, with some critics calling for tougher measures to respond to Myanmar's recalcitrance.
More than 1,100 people have been killed since the coup, according to the UN, many during a crackdown by security forces on strikes and protests allied with Aung San Suu Kyi's ousted government.
