ASEAN's renewed engagement with Myanmar's military could legitimize the junta and yield no tangible results for the people, APHR warns

Yangon, July 15 The ASEAN's "calibrated re-engagement" with the Myanmar military could lead to a situation where the military junta is recognized and legitimized as a normal governing system, without yielding any visible tangible results for the people of Myanmar, the ASEAN Parliamentary for Human Rights (APHR) has warned. The APHR has strongly criticized ASEAN's policy shift towards Myanmar and its renewed engagement with the military council in a statement released today, July 15. "This cannot be called progress by ASEAN. What we are seeing now is the normalization of the military dictatorship, masked by diplomatic jargon. Instead of being held accountable for their five-year impunity, they are being given a seat at the negotiating table," said Mercy Chriesty Barends, an Indonesian Member of Parliament and Chairperson of APHR. According to APHR, while the ASEAN Chair's statements have begun to use phrases like "confidence-building" and "conditions for calibrated re-engagement," ASEAN continues to claim that the Five-Point Consensus remains in effect. However, APHR points out that it is merely empty talk for ASEAN to continue referring to the Five-Point Consensus as the "main framework for reference" in resolving the Myanmar crisis, just days after the military-backed National Assembly passed a resolution urging a review of the Five-Point Consensus. Furthermore, APHR states that public reaffirmations by Singapore and Malaysia that the Five-Point Consensus must continue to be implemented indicate that there are disagreements among ASEAN member states regarding the policy on Myanmar, rather than a unified stance. APHR stated that while the people of Myanmar continue to face intensified military offensives and a widening gap in security conditions between urban and rural areas, ASEAN's current discussions cannot practically change the situation on the ground. APHR urged ASEAN not to sacrifice accountability and justice, which the people of Myanmar have been demanding since the coup, in its recalibration of diplomatic policy. Specifically, APHR stated that all re-engagements with Naypyidaw must be measured and determined by the key commitments outlined in the Five-Point Consensus. These commitments include the immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue involving all parties, including democratic forces, and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance. APHR warned that if ASEAN continues to normalize relations with the military-appointed government without achieving visible and measurable progress on these points, it could legitimize the military junta internationally and regionally.