At the end of the very first regional initiative intended to find a common diplomatic response to the Burmese tragedy, the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (Asean) reached, on Saturday, April 24, a “Consensus”. Qualified by some observers as“Encouraging progress”, this summit organized in Jakarta in the presence of the number one of the military regime in person, General Min Aung Hlaing, concluded with the desire of member countries to “Stop violence”, to engage “A constructive dialogue between all parties”, to name “A special envoy to facilitate dialogue”, of ” to accept [au régime] humanitarian aid “ as well as the principle of “Visit of the special envoy of Asean”.
The question of the real impact of such “Consensus” on the immediate fate of Burma remains unanswered. Twelve weeks after the coup d’état of 1er February, when 748 people were killed by the security forces and that, according to figures from the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP), 3,300 others remain in jail, opponents of the regime are already showing their skepticism.
“The results of the ASEAN meeting will have to be translated into facts, on the ground, in Myanmar [nom officiel de la Birmanie] “, told the World “Doctor Sasa”, spokesperson for the new Government of National Unity (NUG), the body recently formed by former Burmese parliamentarians and several representatives of ethnic guerrillas. “Are the killings going to stop?” Will power be transferred to the legitimately elected government [lors des élections législatives du 8 novembre] ? Will the impunity enjoyed by the military come to an end? “, wonders the one who is also the “minister” of cooperation of the NUG and who corresponds with the outside world from an undisclosed location. To these questions, the answer is likely to be negative.
It is however “Encouraging”, recognized Doctor Sasa, “To see the leaders of the ASEAN countries strive to resolve the crisis in Myanmar”. Asean is playing its credibility on this issue: if many opponents of the junta saw in the presence of the Burmese number one in Jakarta a de facto recognition of the new regime, General Min was however not presented at the summit. as the ruler of Burma, but as the head of the army.
You have 58.73% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.