Myanmarr anti-coup protesters blast ‘deal’
MYANMAR’S pro-democracy activists sharply criticised an agreement between the country’s junta chief and Southeast Asian leaders to end the nation’s violent post-coup crisis and vowed yesterday to continue their protest campaign.
Scattered peaceful protests took place in Myanmar’s big cities yesterday, a day after the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Jakarta, Indonesia, reached a consensus to end the turmoil in the country, but gave no timeline.
“Whether it is Asean or the UN, they will only speak from outside saying don’t fight but negotiate and solve the issues. But that doesn’t reflect Myanmar’s situation on the ground,” said Khin Sandar from a protest group, General Strikes Collaboration Committee. “We will continue the protests. We have plans to do so,” she said.
A statement from Asean chair Brunei said a consensus was reached in Jakarta on five points – ending violence, a constructive dialogue among all parties, a special Asean envoy to facilitate dialogue, acceptance of aid and a visit by the envoy to Myanmar.
The five-point consensus did not mention political prisoners, but the chairman’s statement said the meeting “heard calls” for their release.
Asean leaders had wanted a commitment from Min Aung Hlaing to restrain his security forces, which the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) says have killed 748 people since a mass civil disobedience movement erupted to challenge his February 1 coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
AAPP, a Myanmar activist group, says over 3 300 are in detention.
“Whatever the outcome from the Asean meeting, it will not reflect what people want,” said Wai Aung a protest organiser in Yangon. “We will keep up protests and strikes till the military regime completely fails.”
Several people took to social media to criticise the deal. “Asean’s statement is a slap in the face of the people abused, killed and terrorised by the military,” said one Facebook user.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the representatives of the Myanmar people “were not invited to the Jakarta meeting and also got left out of the consensus that Asean is now patting itself on the back for”..