Regarding the ASEAN Leaders’ Review and Decision which was issued after 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press statement that Myanmar objects to any discussions or decisions without the involvement of the country concerned, on 11 November.
Press Statement
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs learnt the issuance of the ASEAN Leaders’ Review and Decision on the Implementation of the five-point consensus at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits which were held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 11 November 2022.
The current Chair of ASEAN invited a non-political representative from Myanmar to attend the said meetings due to the demand made by some ASEAN member states. Such action of unequal representation contradicts Article 5 of the ASEAN Charter on “Rights and Obligations”. Since Myanmar fully adheres to the basic principles and provisions enshrined in the ASEAN Charter while actively participating in ASEAN as a responsible member state, Myanmar did not accept the invitation which discriminates the level of representation among the Member States.
The Ministry learnt that the ASEAN Leaders’ review and decision on the implementation of the five-point consensus did not factually reflect the on-ground situation and did not include any constructive efforts made by the Myanmar government in the implementation of the five-point consensus. Some expressions in the document amount to interference in the internal affairs of one member state Myanmar and were contrary to the basic principles and provisions in the ASEAN Charter. Therefore, Myanmar categorically rejects and dissociates itself from the said review and decision made by the nine ASEAN leaders.
As a responsible member state of ASEAN, Myanmar has been constructively cooperating with the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair in implementing the ASEAN five-point consensus. To achieve ever-lasting peace and stability in every corner of the country, the Government has already declared a unilateral ceasefire and the Head of State himself is holding several rounds of dialogues with Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) including in facilitating the delivery of broader humanitarian assistance to the population, without any discrimination, in cooperation with the AHA Centre. Therefore, Myanmar is disappointed that ASEAN ignores the notable progress made by Myanmar in the implementation of the five-point consensus.
The ministry also strongly objects to the inappropriate usage to refer Myanmar government and Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) that take responsibility for the State under the Constitution.
The Ministry regrettably observed that the Statement calls for the engagement with all parties concerned which is referring to the groups such as the so-called NUG and PDF group who have been committing terrorist acts to disturb the government’s efforts. Such calls for engagements with the said unlawful and terrorist organizations could encourage terrorist activities while violating the basic “principles” of Article 2 of the ASEAN Charter as well as the ASEAN and International Conventions on counter terrorisms. Therefore, Myanmar strongly objects to and condemns the attempts by ASEAN member states to engage with those unlawful and terrorist organizations through any means and forms.
Since implementing the five-point consensus is a process, inserting additional pressure by setting a timeframe will create more negative implications than positive ones.
Indeed, a one-sided and malicious approach towards Myanmar, including blocking Myanmar from further participation in the ASEAN meetings by giving inappropriate reasons such as lack of improvement in the implementation of the five-point consensus, could provoke the disturbance of ASEAN Community building, ASEAN Unity, Centrality and ASEAN spirit. Such attempts totally neglect Myanmar’s active participation in the work of ASEAN since its joining of ASEAN in 1997 as well as the Myanmar government’s ongoing efforts to reinstate a multiparty democracy.
The Ministry reaffirms that Myanmar will continue to adhere to Article 20 of the ASEAN Charter on decision-making by “consultation and consensus” covered by all ten ASEAN member states. Myanmar objects to any discussions or decisions without the involvement of the country concerned.
The Ministry reiterates its call to the ASEAN Member States to follow the provisions and fundamental principles of the ASEAN Charter, especially non-interference in the internal affairs of the member states. The Ministry reminds that failure to do so would be counterproductive and creates negative impacts on the ASEAN Centrality and Unity.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw
Date: 11 November 2022
Source: The GNLM (12.11.2022)
- The ASEAN Leaders’ review and decision on the implementation of the five-point consensus did not factually reflect the on-ground situation and did not include any constructive efforts made by the Myanmar government in the implementation of the five-point consensus. Some expressions in the document amount to interference in the internal affairs of one member state Myanmar and were contrary to the basic principles and provisions in the ASEAN Charter. Therefore, Myanmar categorically rejects and dissociates itself from the said review and decision made by the nine ASEAN leaders.
- The ministry also strongly objects to the inappropriate usage to refer Myanmar government and Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) that take responsibility for the State under the Constitution.
- The Ministry regrettably observed that the Statement calls for the engagement with all parties concerned which is referring to the groups such as the so-called NUG and PDF group who have been committing terrorist acts to disturb the government’s efforts. Therefore, Myanmar strongly objects to and condemns the attempts by ASEAN member states to engage with those unlawful and terrorist organizations through any means and forms.