Myanmar blasts Asean’s summit snub of junta chief

The Asean meetings are currently chaired by Brunei, but will be held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.- AFP

BANGKOK (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Myanmar’s junta on Monday (Oct 25) slammed Asean’s decision to deny its political appointee participation in this week’s summit, saying that was tantamount to denying the country the same rights enjoyed by other member states.

In a press release circulated on the eve of the 38th and 39th Asean summits which begin on Tuesday, the junta-controlled foreign ministry said: “Myanmar being an Asean member state has the full rights to participate in the upcoming Asean summits and related summits... as the Asean Charter guaranteed equality of all Asean member states and thus equal level of representation at the Asean Meetings on equal footing with fellow Asean Member States.”