ASEAN Ministers Hold Emergency Meeting To Tackle Myanmar Crisis In Bangkok

ASEAN member states are set to hold a ministerial meeting in Thailand later this month to address the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Roy Soemirat announced on Thursday.

Invited by Laos, the current ASEAN chair, the meeting will focus on implementing the bloc’s five-point consensus plan, designed to resolve the political and humanitarian turmoil following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup.

The plan, introduced in April 2021, has seen minimal progress as Myanmar’s junta continues its violent crackdown on dissent and ignores calls for dialogue from its regional neighbors.

At October’s ASEAN summit, leaders reiterated their demand for an “immediate cessation” of violence, stressing the need for a “Myanmar-owned and -led” national dialogue and improved conditions for humanitarian aid delivery.

The ministerial talks are scheduled to begin on December 20, with Indonesia’s foreign minister among the expected attendees.