Myanmar junta urges ASEAN envoy to not have interaction with ‘terrorist’ teams

(Reuters) – Myanmar’s navy authorities has criticised requires the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations’ particular envoy to the conflict-torn nation to fulfill our bodies that oppose final yr’s coup, which the junta has declared as “terrorist” teams.

With little signal of the junta implementing a five-point peace plan agreed upon with ASEAN final yr, which included a direct finish to hostilities and letting a particular envoy facilitate dialogue, rising divisions have emerged within the 10-member bloc over methods to restore stability.

After final Thursday’s ASEAN overseas ministers assembly, Indonesia stated it was essential for the envoy to fulfill all events within the battle, with Malaysia calling for talks with the Nationwide Unity Authorities (NUG), a bunch made up of members of the ousted administration and different junta opponents.

“The ministry notes that whereas some deliberations had been constructive on the implementation of the five-point consensus, two members have steered particular envoy to have interaction with illegal associations and terrorist teams,” Myanmar’s ministry of overseas affairs stated in a press release.

In its first public response to final week’s ASEAN assembly, the ministry stated suggesting the envoy have interaction with such teams was “not solely opposite to the ideas of the ASEAN constitution but in addition undermine ASEAN’s counter-terrorism efforts.”

Representatives from the military-controlled authorities haven’t been invited to ASEAN conferences since late final yr.

Myanmar has been in disaster because the navy overthrew an elected authorities a yr in the past, with greater than 1,500 civilians killed in a crackdown in opposition to junta opponents, based on figures cited by a Thai-based activists group.

The navy, which has disputed the loss of life tally, can be combating on a number of fronts with armed pro-democracy teams within the countryside and ethnic minority forces.

Zin Mar Aung, the NUG’s overseas minister, welcomed the decision by Malaysia’s International Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, for the particular envoy Prak Sokhonn to fulfill with NUG.

In a message on Twitter, Zin Mar Aung thanked Saifuddin for his “robust assist to discover a resolution on Myanmar and his clear message to the particular envoy”.

Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia’s overseas minister, has stated partaking with the NUG was difficult due to the junta’s objections, although stated the envoy may act as a “bridge”.

He stated his predecessor as ASEAN envoy was unable to go to Myanmar due to preconditions by some ASEAN members that the ruling generals discovered unacceptable.

These included entry to Aung San Suu Kyi, the chief of the elected authorities ousted in final yr’s coup. Suu Kyi is on trial accused of a number of crimes.

(Reporting by Reuters Workers; Writing by Ed Davies)