'No significant progress' in Myanmar towards Asean consensus: PM Lee

BINTAN (Indonesia) — There is still “no significant progress” on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) implementing its five-point consensus on Myanmar, which includes the call to cease all violence and resume constructive dialogue between all parties, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Tuesday (Jan 25).

Speaking at a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at Sanchaya resort in Bintan, Indonesia, Mr Lee said that both leaders discussed the Myanmar situation, which “remains serious”.

“We are committed to help Myanmar reach a durable and peaceful resolution in the interests of its people. But it is essential for the Asean chair and his special envoy to engage all parties involved. 

“We also need to see progress in the delivery of humanitarian assistance,” Mr Lee added at a leaders’ retreat between Singapore and Indonesia.

The current chair of the Asean grouping of nations is Cambodia, while Indonesia is the president of the G20 intergovernmental forum. Asean has appointed Mr Erywan Yusof, Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, as its envoy.

The envoy's role is to facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the secretary-general of Asean. The envoy and Asean delegation must also be allowed to meet with all parties concerned.

The five-point consensus was adopted on Apr 24 last year, during a meeting at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta between Asean leaders and Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The consensus was a plan implemented by Asean to restore peace in Myanmar, following a coup against former leader Aung San Suu Kyi that returned the military junta to power. 

Ms Suu Kyi faces several corruption charges, among others, in the midst of large-scale protests in the country and bloody crackdowns by the junta.

On Tuesday, Mr Lee said that Singapore will continue to work with the Asean chair Cambodia, the next chair Indonesia, and other Asean member states on the “full implementation of the five-point consensus and other relevant Asean decisions”.

Mr Joko, who is more popularly known as Jokowi in his country, said that Indonesia and Singapore share the same view of the Myanmar situation.

“This (five-point) consensus is the decision that Asean has taken at the highest level and should be upheld by all,” Mr Joko said.

“We also believe that the safety and well-being of the people of Myanmar should continue to be the priority, therefore humanitarian assistance should continue to be called for and provided without discrimination.”