KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE, April 25 (Bernama): Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) on Sunday issued an open letter relaying their disappointment over Five-Point Consensus (5PCs) that hardly witnessed any progress in resolving the political and humanitarian situation in Myanmar.
According to APHR's website, the letter attentioned to nine leaders of the grouping except Myanmar, and its dialogue partners was issued to mark the first anniversary of the 5PCs on April 24.
In the letter, APHR noted that the junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has failed to implement any of the 5PCs and thus it is time for Asean to move on to sanctioning him for the continued suffering he is inflicting on the people of Myanmar and his blatant disregard for his regional partners.
"Asean should now accept the fact, repeatedly demonstrated over the last months, that Hlaing has no intention whatsoever of abiding by the Consensus unless he feels a strong pressure to do so.
"It is imperative that the member states escalate measures to put real pressure on the military to stop it from brutalising its own population and turning the country into a failed state, and do all they can to work towards the fulfillment of the Myanmar people’s aspirations for peace and democracy,” it said.
In the letter, APHR proposed three steps in order to stop the Myanmar military’s atrocities, hold the perpetrators accountable, and initiate a real process towards peace and democratization.
First make the position of the Special Envoy to Myanmar more effective by ensuring the appointee is exclusively dedicated to this mission, appointed on a long-term basis, and respond to Asean as a whole, rather than based on the rotating Asean Chair position.
Second, there has to be a timeframe and enforcement mechanisms if not the 5PCs will be rendered virtually toothless.
Third, Asen should immediately and publicly meet with the National Unity Government (NUG) as well as representatives of Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) in dialogue to ensure that all voices are heard.
APHR also pointed out Asean’s plan to deliver aid through the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) has not reached out to the people in need.
Hence, Asean should immediately begin to work with Myanmar’s local community-based and civil society organisations, as well as relevant international agencies, to deliver humanitarian aid to the people in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, in response to APHR’s open letter to Asean leaders, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah has called out to the group to meet and discuss on the matter.
"Tq (thank you) for the letter. I have informally met (vc) the @NUGMyanmar Foreign Minister and the NUCC Chairman before the last Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat. Lets meet and discuss,” he tweeted. - Bernama
