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No ‘significant progress’ in implementing Asean’s Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar: PM Lee to PM Hun Sen

SINGAPORE — There has not been “any significant progress” in the implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar since its adoption last year, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted during a video call with his Cambodian counterpart on Friday (Jan 14).

Mr Hun Sen briefed the Singapore Prime Minister on Cambodia’s priorities and agenda as Asean chair this year.
Mr Hun Sen briefed the Singapore Prime Minister on Cambodia’s priorities and agenda as Asean chair this year.
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SINGAPORE — There has not been “any significant progress” in the implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (Asean) Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar since its adoption last year, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted during a video call with his Cambodian counterpart on Friday (Jan 14).

During the call, Mr Hun Sen briefed the Singapore Prime Minister on Cambodia’s priorities and agenda as Asean chair this year, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a press statement on Saturday.

Mr Hun Sen visited Myanmar earlier this month for talks with its military rulers – the first by a head of government to Myanmar since the army overthrew the elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 1 last year.

The coup sparked months of violent protests.

Asean’s Five-Point Consensus was adopted on Apr 24 last year, at a meeting at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta between Asean leaders and Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

"Prime Minister Lee expressed his view that until there was significant progress in implementing the Five-Point Consensus, Asean should maintain its decision reached at the 38th and 39th Asean summits of inviting a non-political representative from Myanmar to Asean meetings," said MFA.

“Any discussion to revise the Asean Leaders’ decision had to be based on new facts. Prime Minister Lee emphasised the need for the Asean Chair to engage all parties concerned, including the Tatmadaw and the National League for Democracy (NLD),” the ministry added.

“The Tatmadaw had proposed a ceasefire with Ethnic Armed Organisations only but the call for a cessation of violence in the Five-Point Consensus referred also, and indeed primarily, to violence against the Tatmadaw’s political opponents and civilians.”

Just days after Mr Hun Sen’s visit, there were further attacks by the Tatmadaw against its political opponents, and additional prison sentences were imposed on Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr Lee noted.

According to MFA, the Cambodian PM also made proposals on how to coordinate a ceasefire in Myanmar and deliver humanitarian assistance to the people.

Mr Lee said he was unsure what role Asean or the Asean chair’s special envoy on Myanmar could play in coordinating a ceasefire since “we did not even have access to all parties”, according to MFA.

“However, Singapore had no in-principle objections to such a mechanism if it could foster an end to violence,” MFA added. CNA

For more stories like this, visit cna.asia.

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