INDONESIAN Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi today issues statement, citing that Myanmar urged to grant access to ASEAN to voice their concern on humanity grounds.
This is to be done so as political crisis which is now becoming more and more critical that has also be ended soon.
Violence should also be not used to disperse street protesters asking the release of Aung Sang Su Kyi.
Such a strong message is said by Minister Marsudi during a virtual conference with her counterparts from ASEAN members last night with focused topic to discuss latest development in Myanmar -known earlier as Burma.
“Showing our respect for non-interference (with domestic issues in Myanmar) is indeed mandatory. I’m also convinced that not any single ASEAN nations would interfere with Myanmar domestic issues. We all have such commitment (as ASEAN members),” she said.
ASEAN charter
At the same time, Minister Marsudi urges that any members of ASEAN should respect and abide with key issues and commitment as clearly stated in the organization’s charter.
“That is to say to show strong respect and (political) commitment to exercise fundamental principles and other values such as democracy, human rights –allthese issues are also very important to exercise (by the Myanmar de facto ruler today). I would like repeat my message -this is to say very important,” Marsudi adds.
Scheduled trip aborted
Days earlier on 24 February, Minister Marsudi along with her Thai counterpart Minister Don Pramudwinai met with the Myanmar junta designated FM Minister Wunna Maung Lwin in Bangkok to discuss various things.
Marsudi’s previous plan to visit Naypyidaw was then cancelled as huge protest was waged against her plan to visit Myanmar.
The Bangkok-based tripartite meeting was finally becoming her new option to get her message to Myanmar done.
Protesters claimed that Marsudi’s visit to Myanmar would be seen by local junta that ASEAN’s has shown their subtle support to legitimize the coup.
Strong protest against Marsudi’s scheduled visit to Naypyidaw was mainly caused by unclear stance shown by Jakarta since the coup erupts.
Intensive contacts with both parties in Myanmar
A special meeting among ASEAN FMs was aired by Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur to discuss the political crisis gripping Myanmar since the putsch.
Minister Marsudi claimed that she has made serious contacts with the “warring” parties -the junta ruler and CRHP -the ousted civil administration- in efforts to find peaceful solution, said Minister Marsudi last week as soon as she arrived from her meeting in Bangkok.
“The safety of Myanmar people is our top priority concern. We urged all parties to exercise constraint so that a peaceful transition may happen to regain inclusive democracy,” Minister Marsudi said.
And for that kind of objectives, the minister said, it should be created a conducive political atmosphere in Myanmar such as dialogue, reconciliation, and international trust building,” she affirmed.
Intensive communication with the junta leadership and CRHP is needed to create such expected atmosphere
“This is to be done so that we can contribute good things for the sake of political peaceful solution,” Marsudi concluded
Notes from ASEAN’s former chairman
Marty Natalegawa is Indonesian FM in 2014-2019.
In his personal opinion, he says with Al Jazeera, what happened in Myanmar is a litmus for ASEAN region.
He thinks that democratisation process in Myanmar is not an event, but a long process to adopt. The developments over the past months are of grave concern to all of us in the region.
The junta should not simply be asked to exercise restraint from violence. They must be told to stop it.
The right to peacefully demonstrate is engrained in ASEAN’s human rights declarations and our charter.
Stop shooting at people and release the democratically elected leaders.
He hopes there is already a script around which ASEAN will rally for the management of the issue. It offers some hope, the fact that ASEAN is in recognition that this is an issue for them to address.
Having several meetings at least demonstrates that ASEAN is projecting its management capacity.
It is extremely important for ASEAN in their communication with the junta to be absolutely clear – this form of communication does not in any way, confer or suggest recognition or acceptance.
It does not confer legitimacy by ASEAN.
There must be, concurrently, communication with the democratically elected leaders of Myanmar – he intentionally uses that term democratically elected leaders, not opposition leaders – there is no moral equality or political between those democratically elected and those who by the strength and means they possess undermined the wishes of the people.
Speaking about democracy in the region at this time is almost like whistling in the dark. But one must persevere and have resilience.
The domestic situation in Myanmar is far more complex, he says.
Myanmar could learn from Indonesia
When ASEAN engages with whomever is the authority in Myanmar – at the moment the junta – it does not take place in a vacuum. It will be in the full glare of publicity and attention from civil society in Myanmar.
They will question that engagement with parties whom all of us consider to be not the legitimate authority. So, the domestic setting has changed.
Myanmar is not unlike Indonesia, in terms of the role of the armed forces in its history… and the tensions in the regions.
Myanmar is extremely diverse with different ethnicities.
Indonesia could provide like a template – there is not one size fits all – but our experience is relevant.
- We have been able to democratically transform ourselves from military rule to where we are now. Some of the lessons and experiences have been less positive.
- We have plenty to share in terms of lessons.
- We must not procrastinate. It is not a time for a reflective moment – should we engage or not engage?
Such a question was answered more than a decade ago when ASEAN presented itself as part of the solution to the situation in Myanmar.
We don’t need to wonder why we need to engage. A Myanmar that is economically challenged and politically unstable will impact the region’s stability and prosperity as well.
He hopes that there is a script to take this situation forward, and that this ASEAN plan must place the democratic wishes and will of the people of Myanmar at the forefront.
PS: Natalegawa’s notes is made available by Al Jazeera’s today publication.
