ASEAN says 5-point plan only way to end Myanmar crisis

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Despite a call for more action, the Southeast Asian regional bloc on Friday doubled down on its five-point consensus to end the crisis in junta-ruled Myanmar.

Reaffirming Myanmar's role as an "integral part" of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the leaders of member countries said in a joint statement that the situation there remains "critical and fragile with growing violence as a major concern."

Reiterating ASEAN's commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the Myanmar crisis, the ASEAN leaders said, however, that little progress was achieved in the implementation of the five-point consensus.

The ASEAN leaders launched meetings in Cambodia for the bloc's 40th and 41st summits, with a major item on the agenda being Myanmar, where the military seized power after overthrowing the nation's first democratically elected government in a Feb. 1, 2021 coup.

"It is therefore incumbent on the Myanmar Armed Forces comply with its commitments to the ASEAN leaders," the statement said, adding the Five-Point Consensus would remain the organization's "valid reference and should be implemented in its entirety."

The Southeast Asian regional bloc had announced five points to end the crisis in Myanmar which saw a bloody military takeover in February last year.

ASEAN agreed that "constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people."

A special envoy of the ASEAN chair was also announced.

"There is a need for an implementation plan that outlines concrete, practical and measurable indicators with specific timeline to support the Five-Point Consensus," the leaders said on Friday, tasking the top diplomats of the ASEAN to develop the implementation plan.

They also urged the de-escalation of tensions and utmost restraint from all sides in the country, vowing to call for support from the UN and other external partners to get the five-point plan implemented.

The consensus calls for "immediate cessation of violence" in Myanmar and for all parties to exercise the utmost restraint.

Urging constructive dialogue among all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution, the plan appointed a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair to facilitate mediation.

However, the envoy has so far failed to make any progress in the dialogue process, despite multiple visits to Myanmar.