[UPDATED] Anwar decries callous Myanmar junta as refugees exceed 200,000 in M’sia

JAKARTA – The frustration with Myanmar’s military regime, which took power via a coup in 2021, seems to have almost boiled over at the 43rd Asean Summit, with leaders expressing exasperation at its obstinacy in responding to agreed-upon reform measures.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that it is imperative for the “five points of consensus” brokered by Asean to be implemented, as the conflict in Myanmar affects not only its own people but also impacts neighbours like Malaysia.

Speaking at the leader’s retreat held during the summit here, he stressed that there are now more than 200,000 refugees from Myanmar in Malaysia. 

Noting that most are innocent victims, he indicated that it is highly difficult to send them back to their country.

“For a country like Malaysia, we can’t view this (delay in implementing the five points) as something usual that can be postponed, because it has caused so much difficulty and hardship to our country,” he said. 

“Now it (number of refugees) has exceeded 200,000…we are dealing with a country that refuses to engage, that refuses to take these people back.”

“I can understand if there are violent elements (among the refugees). 

“But many of them are just innocent victims,” he told leaders of other member nations during the retreat at the Jakarta Convention Centre here today.

Most of the refugees in Malaysia are ethnic Rohingya, who are victims of military aggression in Myanmar. 

Many are lured by human trafficking syndicates to enter Malaysia illegally, often through highly dangerous land and sea routes.

Anwar also decried that the junta continues to rule “with impunity”.

“For now, I don’t see an immediate resolution to the conflict,” he said, referring to the situation in Myanmar. 

“We can’t take it lightly. There have been atrocities, although we accept the fact that the atrocities are inflicted not only by the military junta – but they were, of course, largely responsible.”

Anwar also praised Indonesia for working hard to bring resolution to the Myanmar crisis. 

“We have to concede that there is, unfortunately, no progress, despite the fact that Indonesia in particular had taken enormous steps…unprecedented (ones) compared to efforts in the last twenty years,” he said.

Courage to re-evaluate, discuss problems

Despite expressing similar disappointment, Indonesian president Joko Widodo, who chairs the summit, took a more conciliatory stance, hinting that he still kept faith in Asean’s initiative on the matter.

He said that the bloc must continue pushing for “inclusive national dialogue” as the key to resolving Myanmar’s political crisis, and for humanitarian aid to be continued through the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.

The five points comprise provisions for an immediate end to violence, dialogue among all parties, the appointment of a special envoy, allowing humanitarian assistance by Asean, and enabling a visit by the regional bloc’s special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties.

The five-point consensus will remain the main compass on how Asean approaches the matter, he stressed.

“For the sake of the Asean family, we must have the courage to re-evaluate, discuss problems openly, and look for solutions together.

“It will take more tactical and extraordinary efforts to implement the five-point consensus.”

He stressed that the consensus had been created from a collaborative effort of Asean leaders in Jakarta on April 24, 2021.

He also put on record that Indonesia, as the present chair of Asean, has conducted intensive engagements on Myanmar, numbering more than 145 with seventy stakeholders within nine months. 

“Indonesia saw that trust had begun to emerge between the stakeholders…except the military junta,” he lamented. – The Vibes, September 5, 2023