KUALA LUMPUR – A group of Asean politicians has called for member countries of the international body to freeze financial assets held by the Myanmar junta’s financial institutions within the territories and jurisdiction of the group of 10 nations.
In a joint online press conference, the reps from Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia also called for Asean leaders to suspend the junta’s participation in the association.
“We also hope for and urge Asean leaders to suspend with immediate effect Myanmar’s participation in cooperative activities of Asean as long as the Myanmar military junta still holds on to power.
“We humbly suggest that in said summit meeting, both representatives of the military junta and of the democratically elected representatives of the people (opposition to the military junta) be invited to participate.
“We are also of the view that Asean undertakes appropriate measures to freeze financial assets held by personal of the military junta in financial institutions within the territories of Asean.
“Such also includes the assets of military-owned enterprises and affiliates,” said Cambodia’s former women and veteran affairs minister Mu Sochua.
Malaysia’s Subang MP Wong Chen then stressed that by putting financial pressure on the illegitimate Myanmar government, it can force the military led by General Than Shwe to come to the negotiating table.
Malaysian businesses to sever ties
Wong later told The Vibes that if Putrajaya is serious about opposing the ongoing massacre in the beleaguered Asean nation, it should instruct Bank Negara to freeze the junta’s assets in Malaysia.
“Bank Negara has access to all the depositors. So, they can quickly do a search on whether the junta through their various corporations have banking activity in Malaysia, and banks should freeze the accounts until matters (in Myanmar) are resolved.
“Bank Negara can easily find out which companies are involved with the military junta. But, Bank Negara needs to take the instruction from the government. The government needs to make the foreign policy stand to ensure that there are no banking facilities for them.
“The government said it is concerned about the situation. Then it should just take the next step and instruct Bank Negara to disclose and be transparent (over whether) there are bank accounts belonging to the junta, (so we can) freeze (the accounts) and encourage (the junta) to come to the negotiating table,” said Wong.
Furthermore, the PKR lawmaker called on Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration to advise and encourage Malaysian companies or corporations that have business deals with the junta to sever their ties, just like how Japan’s Kirin Beer has done.
However, he clarified that this should not affect Malaysian businesses that have investments in Myanmar without ties with its military.
Although Wong acknowledged that it is not compulsory for corporations with ties to Myanmar’s military to listen to the government – Bank Negara can still disclose their information, which can trigger a social media movement demanding they stop conducting business with them.
Other signatories of the joint press statement are former Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy and former Thailand foreign minister Kasit Piromya, while Kirjas Global founder Emil Kirjas moderated the conference.
Earlier in March, Indonesian president Joko Widodo had called for an Asean emergency summit to discuss the unfolding tragedy in Myanmar.
On Monday, Malaysia, as well as Asean chair Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, said the meeting will be conducted in Jakarta, but the date has not been set. – The Vibes, April 8, 2021
