The National Unity Government (NUG) has expressed disappointment over the statement issued following the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Malaysia. While the ASEAN statement expressed concern over the escalating conflicts and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Myanmar, the NUG criticized the regional bloc’s failure to directly condemn and effectively address the actions of the military junta that continues to commit serious war crimes.
Although ASEAN’s statement included condemnation of ongoing violence targeting civilians and public infrastructure, and called for immediate cessation of violence with concrete actions, the military junta continues to perpetrate violence against civilians. On the very day of ASEAN’s statement release, an airstrike in the Sagaing Federal Unit resulted in the deaths of more than 30 innocent civilians, including children. The NUG highlighted that while ASEAN continues to reference the Five-Point Consensus as its primary framework, the military junta’s actions consistently violate these agreed-upon points.
The NUG pointed out that the military junta’s attempts to organize an illegitimate sham election clearly contradict the cessation of violence component of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. However, ASEAN’s failure to include any warning or deterrence regarding this illegitimate election effectively amounts to indirect protection of the military junta. Despite ASEAN’s Special Envoy H.E. Tan Sri Othman Hashim’s engagement with ASEAN member states, dialogue partners, Myanmar’s neighboring countries, and various stakeholders since January 2025, he has been unable to pressure the military junta to allow meetings with Myanmar’s legitimate leaders who remain in detention.
The NUG has urged ASEAN to fully understand and empathize with the strong aspirations of the Myanmar people and the goals of the Spring Revolution in effectively resolving Myanmar’s conflict. They emphasized the need for ASEAN to acknowledge how the military junta’s 2021 coup and subsequent violence have hindered regional integration, peace, prosperity, and the development of a people-centered ASEAN Community. The NUG called on ASEAN to implement necessary strategies, including pressure and practical measures against the military junta, while maintaining humanitarian assistance and support for the Myanmar people through appropriate channels that do not legitimize or benefit the military junta.
