The National Unity Government (NUG) issued a statement on March 19 urging the ASEAN Chair, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, to effectively address the military junta’s violence in Myanmar. The statement notes that with the international community’s primary focus on Ukraine, ASEAN has an opportunity to take the lead in addressing Myanmar’s worsening crisis. This presents a crucial moment for the regional body to demonstrate its commitment to resolving the situation that continues to deteriorate.
Under the leadership of Malaysia as the current ASEAN Chair, the organization needs to maintain its commitments to human rights and regional security, as emphasized by the NUG. The statement underscores that this is a critical time to implement decisive actions that can restore justice and peace for each Myanmar citizen. The current situation demands concrete steps beyond the existing five-point consensus to establish a process that aligns with the Myanmar people’s aspirations.
The NUG highlighted recent incidents of violence, including the military council’s airstrikes on a monastery in Naung Cho, northern Shan State, demonstrating the continuing pattern of deliberate attacks against civilians. The statement details how the military council has been conducting systematic attacks targeting religious sites and civilians, resulting in increasing civilian casualties across Sagaing, Mandalay, and Magway regions, as well as Shan State.
The statement emphasizes the urgent need for ASEAN to take meaningful action to stop these acts of violence and implement accountability measures. The NUG stresses that the current situation requires immediate intervention to prevent further loss of civilian lives and protect religious and cultural sites from destruction. The escalating violence and targeted attacks on civilians demonstrate the military council’s disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law, necessitating a more robust response from ASEAN and the international community.
