Cambodia – Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen calls on Myanmar’s junta leader to allow a visit by an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) special envoy and to facilitate humanitarian aid access.
Hun Sen, in his capacity as Asean chairman, video called military military leader Min Aung Hlaing and made a plea with him to adhere to a five-point agreement to resolve the Myanmar conflict, a ccording to Kim Hourn, secretary of state of Cambodia’s foreign ministry.
Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the agreement in an April face-to-face meeting with Asean leaders. It pledges to ending hostilities, enabling humanitarian access, and promoting inclusive discussion.
“He requested that HE (his excellency) Min Aung Hlaing enable the first visit to Myanmar by an Asean special envoy in the future,” Kao Kim Hourn added.
“He urged all parties, including the Myanmar government, to halt bloodshed and negotiate a truce,” Kao Kim Hourn said, and encouraged him to join Asean nations in delivering humanitarian help to Myanmar’s “most affected citizens.”
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted an elected government about a year ago, with close to 1,500 people dead in the junta’s crackdown on opponents and forces battling pro-democracy militias and ethnic minority armies on many fronts.
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The junta claims to be battling “terrorists.”
Kao Kim Hourn made no mention of Min Aung Hlaing’s reaction to the ideas. Myanmar’s military government’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday’s meeting.
The Cambodian leader visited Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar, a visit that raised concerns among some regional neighbors that it may be seen as an endorsement of the regime. Hun Sen is one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, having been in power for 36 years.
He voiced his concern to Min Aung Hlaing that hostilities had erupted after their meeting, Kao Kim Hourn stated.
Asean chairman Hun Sen has been pressed to hold Min Aung Hlaing accountable for the Asean accord. Certain members have argued that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has subsequently been convicted of multiple crimes, should be released and permitted to participate in the peace negotiations. Asean surprised the junta last year by excluding it from important meetings for its inability to adhere to the Asean agreement.
