Myanmar’s Representative Attends ASEAN Meet For First Time In Two Years

Myanmar’s senior official attended a gathering of ASEAN foreign ministers in Laos on Monday, marking the first time the diplomatically isolated country has attended a high-level meeting of the regional bloc in more than two years.

The country has been wracked by terrible violence since a military coup toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021, unleashing a bloody crackdown on dissent.

According to the reports, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has led diplomatic efforts to alleviate the crisis but has had minimal results, with more than 4,400 people killed and almost 20,000 detained as a result of the military crackdown.

Since October 2021, ASEAN has barred junta leaders from attending summits and ministerial meetings and the generals have declined invitations to send non-political representatives.

However, on Monday, senior foreign ministry bureaucrat Marlar Than Htike attended the talks in scenic Luang Prabang.

Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith welcomed Myanmar’s return after two years and expressed hope for progress, but warned against expecting a quick resolution to the conflict.

Kommasith went on to say, “This time we feel a little bit optimistic that the engagement may work, although we have to admit that the issues that are happening in Myanmar will not resolve overnight”.

“We are sure that the more we engage Myanmar, the more understanding … about the real situation that is happening in Myanmar”, Kommasith added.

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