ASEAN summit on Myanmar crisis later this month

By Erric Permana

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) – Indonesian on Tuesday said a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Myanmar, where the military has responded to protests against the Feb. 1 coup brutally, would be held later this month in the capital Jakarta.

“We can expect to hold the special summit in April,” Teuku Faizasyah, a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, told Anadolu Agency.

Earlier, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, who currently serves as chair of the 10-member association, and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin released a joint statement on the meeting.

The two leaders expressed "serious concern over the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and the rising number of fatalities," and urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful solution.

Over 500 people have been killed in the crackdown against those who oppose the overthrowing of the civilian government in the Southeast Asian country, according to rights groups.

On March 19, Indonesian President Joko Widodo proposed an emergency meeting of ASEAN leaders to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

Last week, foreign ministers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore visited China to discuss Myanmar as well as bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed to convene a “special meeting” as soon as possible to mediate the unrest in Myanmar, a member of the economic union.

*Writing by Maria Elisa Hospita