One year on, ASEAN's 5PCs on Myanmar yet to produce desired results

KUALA LUMPUR/BANGKOK, April 24 (Bernama) -- Exactly a year ago today, the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting (ALM) in Jakarta, Indonesia, mooted a plan aimed at resolving the political impasse in Myanmar and to restore law and order in the country following the Feb 1, 2021, coup.

Known as 5-Point Consensus (5PCs), the plan appeared convincing and showcased a united stand of the 10-member grouping on troubled Myanmar. The 5PCs was welcomed by other parties as well, including the United States and the United Nations, as there was an urgency in finding ways to stop the crackdown on anti-coup protesters by the Tatmadaw (military).

The 5PCs are : end the violence; hold constructive talks among all stakeholders; ASEAN provides humanitarian aid to Myanmar; a special ASEAN envoy appointed to conduct talks; and envoy to be allowed to visit the country.

However, there has been no significant progress so far in building trust with the junta and returning Myanmar to the path of democracy through the 5PCs despite the best efforts of ASEAN to convince the junta led by Senior General Min Aung Hliang.

In fact, Myanmar had snubbed ASEAN from the start when its special envoy was not allowed into the country. Subsequently, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen who visited Myanmar early this year after his country took over the ASEAN chair to bring forward the 5PCs also ended up disappointed when he was given the cold shoulder by the junta.

So why has the 5PCs failed to deliver at least some tangible outcomes?

Senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s Centre for ASEAN Regionalism Dr Rahul Mishra said despite ASEAN wanting to see the crisis resolved quickly while under the close watch by the international community, the bloc has to concede that the political conundrum would require more time to solve.

“As much as ASEAN wants to urgently implement the 5PCs, its hands are tied by its own history, agreed procedures and conventions,” he said, referring to ASEAN’s non-interference policy that has long been part of the grouping’s foundation and seen as an impediment in taking action on any member states.

Continue reading at the original article by BERNAMA.com.