Ethnic armed groups say ASEAN envoy meeting was not dialogue with Myanmar junta

The National Unity Government, which is allied with four of the groups that met the envoy on Monday, held separate talks online two days later. The National Unity Government (NUG) said that the meeting between ASEAN's envoy and representatives of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) who met the envoy on Monday was not a "dialogue" with the Myanmar junta. The NUG announced that it held online talks on Tuesday with representatives of four EAOs – the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Chin National Front (CNF), and the Arakan Army (AA) – who met with ASEAN's envoy, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, on Monday. "We want to make it clear that the meeting with ASEAN's envoy is not a dialogue with the junta," said Nyo Ohn Myint, an NUG spokesperson, at an online press conference on Tuesday. "It seems that ASEAN's envoy has misunderstood that we are seeking an opportunity for dialogue with the junta," he added. The Monday meeting was part of ASEAN's efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Myanmar since the military junta seized power in February 2021. However, the NUG claims that the junta does not represent the will of the people and lacks the legitimacy to govern the country. "We consider any meeting with the junta as not reflecting the will of the people," said Nyo Ohn Myint. Following Monday's meeting, the KNU said the meeting with ASEAN's envoy was "constructive" but did not mention dialogue with the junta. The KNPP said the meeting with ASEAN's envoy was "beneficial" but did not mention dialogue with the junta. The CNF said the meeting with ASEAN's envoy was "positive" but did not mention dialogue with the junta. The AA has not released a statement regarding its meeting with ASEAN's envoy.