It’s good news that ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has officially announced its decision about excluding Myanmar’s junta chief from an upcoming summit scheduled for October 26 to 28. The foreign ministers of ASEAN countries at an emergency meeting on Friday night also decided to invite a “non-political representative” from Myanmar. We appreciate the tough stance of the ASEAN, which is considered a strong blow on the junta’s face when the military government is fueling the crisis in Myanmar. This decision has effectively excluded Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing who is responsible for orchestrating the coup against an elected civilian government in February last. The junta on Sunday strongly objected to the outcomes of the emergency Foreign Ministers’ meeting terming it as against the objectives of the ASEAN. The ASEAN move comes for not allowing its special envoy by the military junta to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi during his proposed Myanmar visit. Though Myanmar’s military government blamed ‘foreign intervention’ such as influence of US and EU for such a decision, we do welcome the move as this time ASEAN has taken a pragmatic step which is the demand of time. ASEAN usually doesn’t get involved in regional political conflicts and traditionally favours a policy of non-interference but this time it comes forward for the cause of humanity. Making the military junta isolated and keeping steady pressure by imposing economic sanctions could be a fruitful policy to compel it to stop its bloody aggression against different ethnic groups and the Rohingya Muslim community. But it will not solve the problem of refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh. The assassination of Rohingya leader Mohibullah on September 29 in Cox’s Bazar has come as a threat to the repatriation process.
On the other hand, the National Unity Government of Myanmar has declared a war against the military government. Many rebel groups of liberation fighters are active in its bordering areas. The Myanmar military is engaged in battles on different fronts. It proves one thing that a vested quarter has been trying to create unstable situation in this part of the globe when super powers such as Russia and China are very much eager to protect their business interests. We think, this time regional groups – like the ASEAN – can effectively prevent the Myanmar military ruler from wrongdoings. The world, as well as the people of Myanmar, will be watching closely ASEAN’s desperate role.
