Hello and welcome to the details of Five years after coup, Myanmar gets a seat at Asean’s informal table again, but trust gap remains and now with the details
Nevin Al Sukari - Sana'a - A woman paints Myanmar’s flag on another person’s hand. Asean foreign ministers are set to hold their first in-person meeting with Myanmar’s representative since the 2021 military coup, as the bloc weighs a cautious approach towards re-engagement. — Unsplash pic
BANGKOK, July 11 — Myanmar’s Southeast Asian neighbours are taking cautious steps towards renewed engagement with its military-backed leadership, but the country remains largely kept at arm’s length by Asean.
Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe will meet counterparts from the 11-member bloc at an informal meeting in Bangkok on Sunday, marking the first face-to-face talks between Asean foreign ministers and Myanmar since the 2021 military coup.
“These meetings represent an important step towards the gradual and principled engagement with Myanmar,” said Maratee Nalita Andamo, a deputy spokesperson for Thailand’s foreign ministry.
The talks, however, do not signal a change in Asean’s long-standing position on Myanmar, she said, adding that the meeting was “informal consultations in nature and do not alter Asean’s established position or decisions regarding the situation in Myanmar”.
Asean has barred Myanmar’s top leaders from attending major summits since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, triggering a civil war that has dragged on for more than five years.
The bloc’s five-point peace plan, which calls for dialogue between all sides, has made little progress, with analysts saying divisions are growing between members pushing for cautious engagement and those favouring a tougher stance.
Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam have confirmed their foreign ministers will attend Sunday’s meeting, although Bangkok said the final guest list was still being arranged.
Thailand said Myanmar’s recent election, after which coup leader Min Aung Hlaing became civilian president, had created a possible opening despite criticism over the vote’s restrictions.
“The holding of elections was a significant development and an important opportunity that has not existed over the past five years,” Maratee said.
The Philippines said Myanmar’s foreign minister would brief Asean counterparts on developments in the country.
More than 100,000 people have been killed in Myanmar’s civil war, according to monitoring group ACLED. — AFP
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