Philippines To Maintain ASEAN Engagement With Myanmar Under Its Chairmanship, Says President Marcos

By Nur Atiq Maisarah Suhaimi & Linda Khoo

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- As the incoming ASEAN Chair, the Philippines will continue to push for efforts to help Myanmar find a peaceful and durable solution to its ongoing crisis.

Describing the situation in Myanmar as “a wound in ASEAN’s side that has yet to heal,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed that the bloc must maintain close attention to the issue and emphasised that its fundamental approach should remain one of engagement.

“It is painful for us to watch our neighbour go through the agony of what is essentially a civil war.

“We must therefore continue to engage all stakeholders, continue to talk, and find new ways forward to address the situation. That is what we intend to do during our ASEAN chairmanship,” he said in an exclusive interview with Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

Marcos was in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which concluded on Tuesday.

When asked whether Myanmar’s political leaders would attend the ASEAN Summit next year under the Philippines’ chairmanship, Marcos said, “I would like to see that very much. I am, at heart, an optimist, and so yes, I hope we can get to that point.”

Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Hau Khan Sum, attended the summit held in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 26 to 28.

Although there is a limit to what ASEAN can do in Myanmar, Marcos said it remains important for the bloc to continue engaging and providing guidance to all parties involved.

“We (ASEAN) cannot say that we are closing our doors, not listening to whoever is in Myanmar. We have to continue to engage all the stakeholders, not just the government and bureaucracy, but even the opposition parties.

“The best outcome for Myanmar is to be fully integrated back into ASEAN for the benefit of its economy, its people, and peace,” he said.

Admitting that progress in Myanmar has been “a bit slow” in recent years, Marcos said recent developments have nevertheless been encouraging.

He expressed optimism that sustained efforts would help improve the situation.

“I’m happy to say that there has been some progress in that regard. In the last year, we have seen some movement, and that’s why I’m always optimistic that if we continue down this road, we will continue to make the situation better — but we cannot stop,” he said.

At a media conference after the closing ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the current situation in Myanmar is “better than before,” although he acknowledged that some attacks are still taking place.

The ASEAN 2025 Chair said the bloc’s ongoing efforts, including a series of meetings and dialogues with Myanmar’s leaders, have helped reduce violent incidents across several regions.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a protracted political and humanitarian crisis since the military ousted the democratically elected National Unity Government (NUG) on Feb 1, 2021.

In April the same year, ASEAN leaders held an emergency meeting and adopted the Five Point Consensus (5PCs), which called, among others, for immediate cessation of violence, engagement of constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to restore peace and stability, and assessment of humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar.

In a statement on the ASEAN Leaders’ Review and Decision regarding the implementation of the 5PCs on Sunday, ASEAN Foreign Ministers urged all parties to fully implement the 5PC to achieve an inclusive and durable peace process that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led.

On Myanmar's plan to hold general elections in December this year, the ministers stressed the importance of free, fair, peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and credible general elections, the statement stated.

-- BERNAMA