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SINGAPORE – The military regime in Myanmar has yet to hold the long-promised election some two years after the coup, again raising concerns about deteriorating living conditions and continuous violence as the country remains in turmoil.
This has also become an albatross around the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) neck as the regional bloc fends off criticism among international human rights activists while trying to present itself as a serious economic bloc.
During a recent sit-down between selected Malaysian media and Singapore’s Second Foreign Affairs Minister Maliki Osman, he reiterated Asean is bound by consensus building in its decision-making process and the policy of non-interference of domestic politics.
“The consensus building in Asean’s decision-making process and non-interference of domestic politics are very important principles that we have to adhere to, because every country would (not) want their fellow (Asean) members, or any other country for that matter (to interfere).
“That is the key, and that has always been the signature of Asean – that we respect each other, do not encourage foreign interference in domestic politics,” he said on February 1, incidentally the second anniversary of the coup in Myanmar.
“We also look at the plight of the people in that country. It is not about putting pressure. It is about finding space where we can bring individual member countries that are involved to the discussion table. (For example) at the Asean Summit where the five-point consensus (5PC) was agreed, and that is how (the process) ought to be.”
He added that Asean will continue to engage Myanmar as a group in the hope that they will consider coming to the discussion table and show movement towards fulfilling the obligations under the 5PC.
In 2021, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised Asean for failing to fulfil its pledges or take meaningful steps toward pressing the junta to end its human rights violations.
It added that Asean should signal its support for a United Nations Security Council resolution instituting a global arms embargo, referring the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, and imposing targeted sanctions on junta leadership and military-owned companies.
According to HRW, security forces have killed more than 1,700 people, including at least 130 children, and arbitrarily arrested over 13,000. The military has expanded abusive operations in ethnic minority areas, displacing more than 550,000 people.
“The way we manage (the Myanmar crisis) has not stopped Asean’s ability to continue to engage external partners. We are also working together to make sure that we have a stable and secure region where Asean is concerned, for us to attract investments to the region.
Asean ought to continue to work together, (just) as Singapore and Malaysia continue to advance its interests.
On the issue of refugees fleeing Myanmar, Maliki said work to support humanitarian efforts in Myanmar is done via the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management.
“It depends on the assessment of the Myanmar people’s other needs. From that perspective, I think we can do more whether we do it (as) an individual country or whether we tap into Asean’s existing infrastructure to address the Myanmar people’s plight. Myanmar is a complex issue.
“But we will want to support victims of violence, (and) clearly denounce violence. We want to also support those who are in need of immediate assistance. That continues to be our stance.
“How much (we can do) is really dependent on the current (military) authorities in Myanmar. We engage them very regularly to make sure that we bring them back to the 5PC, and encourage them to go back to (implementing) the 5PC because that is the framework which was agreed (upon) by Asean leaders and we hope that they will move in this direction.”
He also reiterated that not every country is able to take in refugees taking into account the many issues involved, including space.
What is important is to help the country evolve to manage those domestic issues. We hope that stability will prevail, that the country involved will be able to resolve those issues. We facilitate by helping those who are affected but allow time for them to resolve their issues.
Just last week Asean ministers at the end of two-day talks in Indonesia had urged Myanmar’s junta to implement a five-point peace plan agreed upon two years ago to create a path towards ending the country’s crisis.
Myanmar remains an Asean member but the bloc barred it from top-level summits over its failure to implement the plan.
On Timor-Leste’s move towards Asean membership
Talks with Maliki also included Timor-Leste’s capacity-building in preparation for its Asean membership, to which Singapore has articulated support.
He said the process of Timor-Leste’s membership application has been going on for the last couple of years where there is an existing framework and fact-finding missions were done to assess its readiness.
“In terms of the different needs they might have to level up their readiness to be part of Asean. It is not easy. There are a lot of obligations, and so we provide a lot of assistance for Timor-Leste to come on board and, when they are ready, Asean will be ready to also welcome them.”
Maliki also revealed that he had visited the country three times, noting that it has a lot of opportunities and potential to develop its human resources.
“Timor-Leste is also well-endowed with natural resources, so they can capitalise on that. They have very good coffee, and this is just one of the many natural resources that they have.
“I think what they need are investments and investors and Singapore has been investing in Timor-Leste also. (During my visits) we discussed reciprocal activities, they need investments in infrastructure, in the airport, and many other facilities. I think the potential is huge, and I think Asean member states can continue to look at Timor-Leste as having that potential.
We have shared with Timor-Leste a package that would help them, so that we can facilitate their move towards accession as an (Asean) member.
“Timor-Leste is in our Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). The SCP is really where we provide opportunities for government officials from different countries to come to Singapore for training in different areas. Depending on the areas of need, we also send our trainers to that particular country.”
Timor-Leste achieved independence in 2002.
Meanwhile, Malaysia was the first country to set up a liaison office in Dili on April 13, 2001, and the first among Asean countries to set up an embassy there on May 19, 2002.
Since then, it has been actively supporting Timor-Leste in terms of its social, security, and economic developments by providing capacity-building training courses for its officials through the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme. – The Vibes, February 10, 2023
