ASEAN excludes Myanmar junta chief from summit in uncommon transfer

Southeast Asian international locations will invite a non-political consultant from Myanmar to a regional summit this month, delivering an unprecedented snub to the navy chief who led a coup in opposition to an elected civilian authorities in February.
The resolution taken by international ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at an emergency assembly on Friday night time, marks a uncommon daring step for the consensus-driven bloc, which has historically favoured a coverage of engagement and non-interference.
Singapore’s international ministry stated on Saturday the transfer to exclude junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was a “difficult, but necessary, decision to uphold ASEAN’s credibility”.
The assertion cited a scarcity of progress made on a roadmap to revive peace in Myanmar that the junta had agreed to with ASEAN in April.
A spokesman for Myanmar’s navy authorities blamed “foreign intervention” for the choice.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun informed the BBC Burmese information service that the United States and representatives of the European Union had pressured different ASEAN member states.
“The foreign interventions can also be seen here,” he stated. “We learned that some envoys from some countries met with U.S. foreign affairs and received pressure from EU.”
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmar safety forces with hundreds of others arrested, in line with the United Nations, amid a crackdown on strikes and protests which has derailed the nation’s tentative democracy and prompted worldwide condemnation.The junta says these estimates of the dying toll are exaggerated.
ASEAN’s present chair Brunei stated a non-political determine from Myanmar can be invited to the Oct. 26-28 summit, after no consensus was reached for a political consultant to attend.
“As there had been insufficient progress… as well as concerns over Myanmar’s commitment, in particular on establishing constructive dialogue among all concerned parties, some ASEAN Member States recommended that ASEAN give space to Myanmar to restore its internal affairs and return to normalcy,” Brunei stated in a press release.
It didn’t point out Min Aung Hlaing or identify who can be invited in his stead.
Brunei stated some member states had acquired requests from Myanmar’s National Unity Government, shaped by opponents of the junta, to attend the summit.

‘Justified Downgrade’ 
ASEAN has confronted rising worldwide strain to take a harder stand in opposition to Myanmar, having been criticised up to now for its ineffectiveness in coping with leaders accused of rights abuses, subverting democracy and intimidating political opponents.
A US State Department official informed reporters on Friday that it was “perfectly appropriate and in fact completely justified” for ASEAN to downgrade Myanmar’s participation on the coming summit.
Singapore in its assertion urged Myanmar to cooperate with ASEAN’s envoy, Brunei’s second international affairs minister Erywan Yusof.
Erywan has delayed a long-planned go to to the nation in latest weeks and has requested to satisfy all events in Myanmar, together with deposed chief Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained within the coup.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun stated this week Erywan can be welcome in Myanmar, however wouldn’t be allowed to satisfy Suu Kyi as a result of she is charged with crimes.
Malaysia’s international minister stated it will be as much as the Myanmar junta to resolve on an alternate consultant to the summit.
“We never thought of removing Myanmar from ASEAN, we believe Myanmar has the same rights (as us),” international minister Saifuddin Abdullah informed reporters in line with Bernama state information company.
“But the junta has not cooperated, so ASEAN must be strong in defending its credibility and integrity,” he added.