The Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD) group has announced that ASEAN’s dignity has completely deteriorated under the military council as the regional body continues to engage with Myanmar’s military junta. The group’s spokesperson, Ko Naw Aung, stated that there can be no negotiation with criminals who are committing mass murders, emphasizing that ASEAN should stand with the Myanmar people rather than supporting killers. The organization firmly rejects any ‘quiet diplomacy’ or ‘mediation’ efforts by the international community that provide protection to the military council.
The statement highlighted that those who bomb schools and brutally kill children cannot be legitimized. As Malaysia prepares to chair the 46th ASEAN Summit, DMD has urged ASEAN to cease all relations with war criminals. The group emphasized that ASEAN must move beyond the unsuccessful Five-Point Consensus and support a Myanmar-led solution to the crisis, while also calling for an end to pressure on revolutionary forces and civil society organizations to negotiate with the military group. They pointed out that every engagement with the military council only serves to strengthen them, likening it to providing them with ‘vitamins’ rather than promoting peace.
Since the 2021 military coup, DMD argues that ASEAN’s attempts to include the military council at the negotiating table have effectively turned a blind eye to the bombing and killing of civilians. The group highlighted recent incidents in Sagaing Region and Rakhine State, where military council airstrikes since May 12 have resulted in dozens of deaths, including children, teachers, and women, with hundreds of children injured. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 50 people have been killed nationwide due to military council attacks from January 1 to May 21, 2025. The group also noted that 285 civil society organizations have called on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as ASEAN Chair, to demonstrate strong and decisive leadership in resolving the Myanmar crisis.
