Really? Twenty months and three summits later, ASEAN leaders should know that the junta never had the intention of abiding by the agreement, which includes an immediate end to violence and engaging dialogue with the opposition.

The Myanmar issue has been holding back ASEAN’s entire progress, including the group’s move to becoming a community and in addressing many pressing issues in the economy, public health and common security. Although Myanmar did not attend last weekend’s summit, it dominated discussions, including when world leaders met at the East Asia Summit, held back-to-back with the ASEAN summit.

Now that Indonesia is taking over the ASEAN chair, we should expect more from the group. We can forgive outgoing chair Cambodia and its predecessor Brunei in 2020, but as the largest member Indonesia has more clout and resources to make a difference in Myanmar.

We may recall that the five-point consensus was the result of Indonesia’s hard work and diplomatic skills in bringing all 10 ASEAN leaders, including junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, to come to the emergency meeting and agree on a five-point consensus. The agreement raised hopes at the time that the brutality would soon end.

The world had pinned hopes on Myanmar’s closest neighbors in Southeast Asia to put pressure on the junta. But the continued defiance and the killing and jailing of its own people is creating a lot of frustration. Many are starting to question ASEAN’s effectiveness and credibility.

Now, with Indonesia at the helm, ASEAN needs to change its tact on Myanmar.

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