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Myanmar's Ties with ASEAN Remain Strained Despite Signs of Renewed Engagement
Kim Aris said public talks with Myanmar’s military-backed rulers would legitimize the regime as ASEAN continues limited engagement, despite no Five-Point Consensus progress.
Kim Aris, son of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to avoid public engagement with Myanmar's military junta, arguing that such visibility unfairly legitimizes the regime.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers held an informal meeting with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe in Bangkok on July 12-13, marking direct engagement on the regional bloc's stalled Five-Point Consensus peace initiative.
Citing a lack of proof that his mother is alive, Aris called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, expressing concern over the absence of information since her April transfer to house arrest.
The Philippines' Foreign Minister Tess Lazaro stated on Thursday that Myanmar's return to top-level ASEAN meetings remains "still far off," as the regional bloc develops specific benchmarks to measure junta compliance.
Senior officials are finalizing benchmarks to evaluate progress on the peace roadmap ahead of the ASEAN Summit later this year; Lazaro declined to speculate on consequences if the junta fails to comply.