ID :
659200
Wed, 05/10/2023 - 07:42
Auther :
BERNAMA
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/659200
The shortlink copeid

Tatmadaw Should Continue To Be Pressured To Cease Violence In Myanmar - Vivian Balakrishnan

By Massita Ahmad

 

SINGAPORE, May 10 (Bernama) -- The Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces, should continue to be pressured to cease violence and implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) “swiftly and fully”, says Singapore Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

 

Balakrishnan said this in his written reply to a parliamentary question on ASEAN’s response to the situation in Myanmar.

 

The question was from Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza asking him what is the ASEAN leadership intending to do in light of continued and increasing, violence and human rights violations in Myanmar.

 

The minister noted that Myanmar’s neighbours outside of ASEAN and the external partners, including the United Nation (UN), also have important roles to play in working with ASEAN to address the crisis and facilitate national reconciliation in Myanmar.

 

Nevertheless, the limiting factor for progress in the implementation of the 5PC is not ASEAN or its external partners but the stakeholders within Myanmar especially the Tatmadaw. The 5PC calls for an immediate end to violence in the country; dialogue among all parties; the appointment of a special envoy; humanitarian assistance by ASEAN; and the special envoy’s visit to Myanmar to meet with all parties.

 

Balakrishnan stressed that Singapore supported the statement of ASEAN Chair Indonesia which has strongly condemned the recent airstrikes by the Myanmar military in Sagaing Region, Myanmar on April 11, 2023.

 

“Singapore supports this statement. Any attack on civilians is reprehensible and cannot be condoned,” he said.

 

Balakrishnan said such acts of violence contradict the 5PC formulated by the ASEAN Leaders and accepted by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at their meeting on April 24, 2021 in Jakarta.

 

“Given the limited progress in the implementation of the 5PC, the Leaders, at the ASEAN Summits in November 2022, agreed on a series of steps to send a clear signal to the Tatmadaw,” he said.

 

According to Balakrishnan, Indonesia has been engaging stakeholders to encourage inclusive dialogue in Myanmar.

 

“It has called for the cessation of violence and taken steps to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar,” he said.

 

-- BERNAMA

 

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