KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (NNN-Bernama) — The special ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in Jakarta on Saturday to discuss the Myanmar crisis has been long overdue, probably due to the lack of a fast response mechanism for the 10-member grouping, says an independent and non-partisan think-tank based in Malaysia.
Chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Studies at the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) Ramon Navaratnam said hence is of utmost importance for ASEAN to adopt a fast response mechanism.
This is crucial as it will allow them to act promptly to resolve any potential internal conflict happening within any member state.
Such mechanism is crucial as he foresees more similar crisis happening in the future and the mechanism will help the regional grouping to be better prepared to act promptly and intervene effectively during unprecedented and challenging times.
“It is very pitiful that we could not hold this special meeting earlier after the coup in Feb 1. Whatever said it is important that ASEAN keeps on the honest and focussed path in discussing developments in Myanmar.
“Otherwise, no basic fundamental principles and philosophy will hold us together as a solid, effective and regional entity,” he told Bernama commenting on the first special meeting held by ASEAN tomorrow to discuss on an internal conflict within an ASEAN member state.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Indonesian President Joko Widodo have confirmed their attendance at the meeting chaired by Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.
Myanmar has been going through upheaval since armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing on Feb 1 ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi. As of Wednesday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 739 people had been killed in the demonstrations against the coup and 3,331 people had been detained.
Commenting further, the former economist said Myanmar’s military should review the current situation in the country because ‘so long there is an emergency, you are undermining the principle of democracy, validity and efficacy of the people’s vote for the elections’.
“ASEAN should appeal for a return of civil and democratic government in Myanmar. The least, there should be a coalition government together with military as the minority in the government and then go into a full democracy in one year,” he said, adding the principle of Buddhism of tolerance and rejection of hatred should be preserved in Myanmar.
He also said the current situation in Myanmar is a wake up call for ASEAN to be more vigilant and cautious when handling their domestic policies.
— NNN-BERNAMA
