ANKARA – Regional leaders have condemned an attack on Asean officials delivering humanitarian aid to refugees in Myanmar, Anadolu Agency reported.
Singapore said two of its embassy staff were part of the convoy attacked in Shan state and that they were now safely back in Yangon.
“Singapore condemns this attack. It is critical to safeguard the safety of humanitarian and diplomatic personnel, to ensure that they can continue their operations and provide necessary aid to those in need,” said a Foreign Ministry spokesman in a statement late last night in response to queries on the incident.
“Singapore urges all parties to refrain from violence, in accordance with the Five-Point Consensus. Only constructive dialogue among all key stakeholders in Myanmar can facilitate a peaceful solution in the interests of the people of Myanmar.”
The Five-Point Consensus, also called the 5PC, was issued by Asean soon after the February 2021 coup launched by Myanmar’s military when Brunei helmed the regional bloc.
Although it remained unclear when and who attacked the officials, the prime minister of Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, Mahn Win Khaing Than, blamed the country’s powerful military junta for the attack.
“Convoy attack in Shan state blamed on PDF (anti-junta People’s Defense Forces) by Myanmar military is implausible,” he tweeted yesterday.
Shan state, the largest of Myanmar’s 14 administrative divisions, according to him is “heavily guarded by military and ERO (Ethnic Revolutionary Organisation) forces.”
“Diplomats were visiting to meet the war refugees. Only those who fear the truth to be revealed are to blame,” Than further said.
Indonesia calls for dialogue
Indonesian President Joko Widodo also denounced the attack on Asean officials, calling for an end to violence in the strife-torn country.
The Indonesian leader, popularly known as Jokowi, did not provide details of the incident but said the officials were attacked while delivering humanitarian aid, the English daily Malay Times reported.
The attack, Jokowi added, would not deter efforts by Jakarta and Asean to push for peace in Myanmar.
“Stop using force, stop violence because it’s the people who will be victims. This condition will not make anybody win,” he was quoted as saying.
Jakarta encourages all stakeholders to have a dialogue and find solutions, he maintained.
There was no comment from the Myanmar junta till this report was published.
The military takeover in February 2021 triggered mass protests in Myanmar, with the junta’s forces killing more than 1,500 people in a crackdown on dissent, according to the local monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
While the protests have recently decreased, Asean’s 5PC called on all parties in Buddhist-majority Myanmar to cease violence in the country and “exercise utmost restraint.”
Under the 5PC, Asean also provides humanitarian assistance to Myanmar through its Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, while its special envoy was assigned to undertake visits to Myanmar to “meet with all parties concerned.”
Asean has held several summits and meetings since the latest military coup in Myanmar but has stopped inviting junta representatives. – Bernama, May 9, 2023
