Myanmar’s neighbours seek to ease its isolation despite conflict

[CEBU] Sentiment is warming among some South-east Asian nations toward easing Myanmar’s isolation five years after the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi, with diplomats signaling a desire to bring the crisis-torn nation back into the fold despite ongoing conflict. 

Officials from Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, gathering at this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in the Philippines, said the country’s recent elections — which were widely considered flawed — political prisoner amnesties, and Suu Kyi’s transfer to house arrest were positive signs from coup chief-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing.

However, ongoing military conflicts with ethnic armed groups outside Myanmar’s urban centers remain the primary obstacle to ending the country’s isolation within the 11-member bloc.

“Recent developments seem to be going in the right direction,” Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in an interview on Thursday. “At this meeting, I’ve been telling my colleagues, we should give this approach of re-engagement a chance.”

The exclusion of Myanmar’s leadership at Asean summits dates to 2021, after Min Aung Hlaing led the coup that jailed civilian leaders including Suu Kyi.

Asean’s “Five-Point Consensus“ demands an immediate cessation of violence, a condition that has limited Myanmar to sending only non-political representatives to the bloc’s gatherings.

The hesitancy by Asean contrasts with Beijing’s embrace of Min Aung Hlaing’s government, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledging support for the country during a visit last month.

The US, meanwhile, has maintained its distance from the new government while calling for an end to hostilities. Both powers nevertheless retain interests in the country’s vast mineral resources.

Sihasak said he proposed that Asean members invite Myanmar’s foreign minister to a sideline meeting to relay concerns directly. 

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“If we have any specific concern, we can tell the foreign minister directly,” he said. “We believe it’s time for some direct communication.”

Thailand — its immediate neighbour along a 2,400 km border — has been emphasising continued engagement and wants “to help build bridges” between Myanmar and Asean since the elections results in February, while stopping short of calling for any immediate change to Asean’s restrictions on political representation.

“There will be ongoing conversations” among Asean members, Kung Phoak, secretary of state at Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said in an interview when asked if Min Aung Hlaing could be invited to attend the next summit, slated for November. 

While not guaranteed, he said on Thursday that “Myanmar is still a permanent member of Asean, and it’s our shared responsibility to help one another.”

“I can’t say specifically what it’s going to entail, but I can say is that everyone acknowledged the importance of engagement,” he said. 

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono said in prepared remarks that the release of political prisoners and Suu Kyi’s transfer “show a positive gesture and progress toward a positive trajectory,” while urging Myanmar’s authorities to engage all relevant parties and stakeholders to restore stability. 

Any move to restore Myanmar’s full participation would likely require consensus among Asean’s other 10 members.

Myanmar carried out a tightly controlled election in earlier this year aimed at transitioning to civilian rule while maintaining the military’s grip on power. The vote was won by a military-aligned party and widely dismissed by Western governments as lacking credibility.

Asean “has not reached any consensus with regard to the recognition of the results of the election in Myanmar,” but its engagement with individual countries continues, said Dominic Xavier Imperial, Philippine foreign affairs spokesperson for Asean affairs.

The Philippines, which currently holds the annually rotating chair of Asean, also called on Myanmar to allow the group’s special envoy access to Suu Kyi.

While Thailand’s Sihasak supports that proposal, he stressed that more direct engagement by Asean as a group is needed. “To be very frank, what have we done under the Five-Point Census, other than repeating the Five-Point Consensus and appointing a special envoy?” BLOOMBERG