Myanmar situation unacceptable, junta chief told at talks

JAKARTA: Myanmar’s military must restore democracy and stop the violence against citizens, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said after crisis talks with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Southeast Asian leaders on Saturday.

The strongly worded comments followed a meeting in Jakarta of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which was the senior Myanmar general’s first foreign trip since security forces staged a coup that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in early February.

Min Aung Hlaing has become the focus of international outrage over the coup and a subsequent crackdown on dissent that has left more than 700 dead.

“The first requested commitment is for the Myanmar military to stop the use of violence and that all parties there at the same time must refrain so that tensions can be reduced,” Widodo said Saturday. “The violence must be stopped and democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be restored.”

He also called for the release of political prisoners and for a special envoy to be allowed into the crisis-hit nation to “push for dialogue”.

Min Aung Hlaing did not make a formal public statement.

But Singapore’s prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, who called for the release of Suu Kyi from house arrest, said the junta leader “heard us”.

“He was not opposed to ASEAN playing a constructive role, or an ASEAN delegation visit, or humanitarian assistance, and that they would move forward and engage with ASEAN in a constructive way,” Lee told reporters, citing the general’s comments at the meeting.

Also at the weekend meeting was the Sultan of Brunei, the current chair of Asean, as well as leaders and foreign ministers from most of the 10-country group, including Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos.

Small protests outside the bloc’s Jakarta headquarters were dispersed by security personnel.

In Myanmar, protesters continued to take to the streets Saturday, including in northern Kachin state, where demonstrators wore blue shirts to symbolise detainees.

In commercial hub Yangon, some residents staged a mock funeral for the senior general by smashing saffron-coloured clay pots on the ground, symbolic of cutting ties with the dead.

The general’s involvement in the Jakarta talks has angered activists, human rights groups and a shadow government of ousted Myanmar lawmakers, which was not invited to the gathering.