The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has expressed
"deep"
concern over the intensifying civil conflict in Burma, which recently culminated in the capture of a strategic town on the Thai border by anti-junta fighters.
“We, the member states of Asean, are deeply concerned by the recent escalation of conflicts, particularly in the Myawaddy region
,” wrote the foreign ministers of the bloc of ten countries, in a joint statement dated Thursday .
“We urgently call on all parties to immediately cease violence and exercise maximum restraint, respect international humanitarian law and take all necessary measures to defuse tensions and ensure the protection and security of all civilians
,” they insisted. Burma, an ASEAN member country, has been mired in violent civil conflict since the 2021 coup against Aung San Suu Kyi, with no peaceful outcome in sight, despite repeated calls from the regional group which presented a crisis exit plan three years ago.
No territorial “violation” accepted
Fighting has intensified in recent months after a series of attacks by ethnic minority groups and anti-junta fighters in several regions. The military power has suffered several major setbacks, notably in border areas of China and Thailand, which places it in a position of weakness unprecedented since the putsch, according to analysts. Last week, the junta withdrew from the strategic town of Myawaddy, after days of fighting in which the sounds of explosions and artillery could be heard on the Thai side.
Since then, there have been no major clashes in the city, but fighting has taken place about thirty kilometers further, in Kawkareik, another town located on the main road linking Rangoon to Thailand. Thailand, for its part, has increased its level of military presence on its border. The kingdom has warned that it will not accept any
“violation”
of its territory, while preparing for a possible influx of refugees.
Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest
“As a neighboring country, we support negotiations that could lead to unity, peace and stability
,” said Nikorndej Balankura, spokesperson for Thai diplomacy, on Friday. Since October 2021, Burma has been excluded from Asean summits and ministerial meetings but, in January, a senior official from Naypyidaw participated in a
“retreat”
of foreign ministers in Laos, the country which holds the annual rotating presidency . A Laotian envoy from Asean met the head of the junta in Naypyidaw in early January to discuss
“peace and stability”
.
Burma has often been a subject of contention among ASEAN members. The five-point crisis exit plan concocted by Asean includes the establishment of a dialogue between all parties concerned. A request that has remained a dead letter for the moment, the junta continuing to describe its ethnic and political adversaries as
“terrorists”
. Aung San Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year prison sentence for several convictions described as a charade by human rights groups.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, 78, was transferred from his cell to house arrest, a military source told AFP on Wednesday, the junta having announced measures to protect fragile detainees in the face of a heat wave. The conflict has killed more than 4,800 civilians since 2021, according to a local monitoring group.