Southeast Asian leaders, on Thursday, urged Myanmar’s military to end violence and start a dialogue with the opposition, to resolve the crisis that has gripped the country.
Crisis erupted in the Asian country two years ago after the military seized power in a coup.
The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed these deep concerns over the escalation of armed conflicts and violence in Myanmar, in a statement at the end of their summit in Indonesia.
“Violations of humanitarian values cannot be tolerated,’’ said President Joko Widodo of Indonesia.
Widodo is this year’s chair of ASEAN, which held its summit in the resort town of Labuan Bajo, on Indonesia’s Flores island.
“Inclusivity must be held firmly by ASEAN, because our credibility is at stake,’’ he said.
ASEAN has been under pressure to take a more active role in resolving the turmoil in Myanmar after the coup in February 2021, sparked an uprising and a deadly crackdown by security forces.
More than 3,000 people have been killed and another 1.8 million have fled their homes since the coup, according to human rights groups.
Widodo had earlier pointed out that there had been no significant progress in the implementation of a five-point plan.
The plan, agreed on at a special summit by the bloc in 2021, is aimed at facilitating a peaceful solution in Myanmar.
But the leaders, however, reaffirmed their support for the consensus, which calls for an immediate end to violence, and dialogue among all parties.
It also agreed on provision of humanitarian assistance through an ASEAN agency, and a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar.
