ASEAN Leaders Should Grant People’s Aspiration on Myanmar
Three months of the Tatmadaw coup d’etat yields 700 people more had been died, 3000 people have been arrested, continuous bloodshed crackdown, ethnic armed group resistances, economic collapse, uncontrollable pandemic, the threat of starvation, an increase of refugees, and other more. The coup d’etat had drawn strong resistance from domestic, regional, and global communities which many believe had not been expected by the Tatmadaw. The coup d’etat has turned into multidimensional crises — political, security, humanitarian, and economic crisis. In a dire time for Myanmar people, ASEAN has to deliver and it is certainly a credibility test for ASEAN.
Unfortunately, since the 1st of February’s coup d’etat by the Tatmadaw, ASEAN countries are politically divided, only Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei had condemned the coup d’etat, yet a rather wishy-washy attitude by Thailand and a silent attitude by Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Interestingly, an upside-down response is coming from civil societies and the people of Southeast Asia. As Jakarta is preparing herself as a host for a crucial ASEAN Special Summit on the 24th of April, people of the region have expressed their solidarity, empathy, anger, disappointment, and yet they had also contributed thoughts, aspirations, and ideas to end the Tatmadaw Coup d’etat and its atrocity.
The end game of people aspiration is the restoration of civilian government and the continuation of Myanmar’s fledgling democracy. In order to do that, we should add pressure on the Tatmadaw by cutting the funding, cutting the weapon, and cutting the impunity.
On the 8th and 22nd of April, there was 2 major Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) led forums on Myanmar; the South East Asia People to People Regional Hall convened by former President of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos Horta and Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Founder of Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) and Southeast Asia People’s Summit on Myanmar.
Both forums produced a joint declaration and open letter to ASEAN Leaders, I observe there are 5 dimensions of aspiration; politics, ongoing violence, humanitarian, sanction, and international and regional response.
In the political dimension, the most immediate aspiration is an unconditional release and stop the criminalization of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, democratic activist, journalist, and others. Southeast Asian people are also expressing their recognition of the result of Myanmar general elections 2020 and calling to ASEAN and the International community to recognize the National Unity Government (NUG) and CRPH (Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) as the legitimate representative of Myanmar. Besides, that ASEAN should also endorse the establishment of the Federal Democracy Charter.
Southeast Asian people is also enrage with the continuous violence did by Tatmadaw. Southeast Asian people see it as a crime against humanity and a threat to international peace and security. They also call for perpetrators must be held accountable.
Today’s most urgent situation is Myanmar people are in need of humanitarian help. Thousands of people have been displaced. ASEAN countries should not close the door and should not deport those who are fleeing the repression in Myanmar. Subsequently, it is urgent to establish a humanitarian door to deliver aids, food, blankets, shelters, and many more. The World Food Programme has warned that they see a threat of starvation in coming weeks if there’s no humanitarian intervention. Thailand, Laos, India, and China should open the door.
The other imperative dimension is targeted sanction. There is a need to invite international in particular ASEAN investors who are investing in Myanmar to review their investment in Myanmar and ASEAN countries to freeze the General’s assets that are parked in their banks. Subsequently, international communities should also do the military embargo to Myanmar and cut the military to military relations with the Tatmadaw.
On the international dimension, ASEAN should work with the UNSC, UNHRC, and ICC. ASEAN should send a special envoy to Myanmar and a delegation of the ASEAN countries representative to facilitate Myanmar-led dialogue to find a political solution. The UNSC has also sent its mission to Myanmar to assess the situation and endorse the dialogue. ICC also plays an important role to hold the Military General to be held accountable for its crime against humanity.
Both forums are attended and endorsed by 1000 + ASEAN CSOs, this is a true practice of the ASEAN community and people-centered ASEAN. Unfortunately, I do not see a strong common union of all ASEAN leaders, the absence of Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan–ocha, and President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Durtete is already a backslide of the summit credibility.
All in all, this is a true test of ASEAN credibility and capability as well as ASEAN leaders unity. If ASEAN leaders believe in people-centered ASEAN, they should grant its people’s aspiration. ASEAN leaders should also think beyond ASEAN business as usual and should commit to a concrete action to stop the violence and achieve a political solution. Saturday’s ASEAN leaders’ joint statement is the most awaited document that could strengthen or abandon people’s hope and faith in ASEAN.
