Blinken Urges Myanmar's Military Council to End Violence

In a recent meeting in Jakarta, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the military council governing Myanmar to put an end to the violence and embrace the Southeast Asia bloc's plan for conflict resolution and the restoration of democratic rule. The crisis in Myanmar took center stage at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting this week, where foreign ministers condemned the violence and expressed concern about internal divisions within the alliance.

The ongoing crisis in Myanmar following the February 2021 coup, which ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and her government, has led to a wave of repression against opposition groups. Secretary of State Blinken emphasized the need to exert pressure on the military regime in Myanmar to halt the violence and implement the five-point ASEAN agreement, thereby supporting the return to democratic governance.

The ASEAN foreign ministers, in a statement issued more than a day after the summit, denounced the violence in Myanmar. The crisis loomed large over the ASEAN meeting this week, exposing internal divisions within the bloc. The situation in Myanmar has sparked deep divisions among ASEAN members.

According to an anonymous diplomat interviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), there are stark divisions within ASEAN regarding the Myanmar issue. Some members advocate for resuming discussions with the military, while others insist on maintaining the five-point plan as the foundation of their engagement with Myanmar's military leadership.