Myanmar Junta Takes Cautious Steps With ASEAN on International Aid Access

By Kavi Chongkittavorn 28 March 2022

The three-day go to of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) particular envoy to Myanmar final week fulfilled just one level of the five-point consensus agreed final yr: level 4, which offers with humanitarian help. Even so, extra discussions are wanted to work out procedures to facilitate humanitarian efforts in order that the affected Myanmar individuals each in battle areas and different areas get the help they want speedily and safely. However it’s a fruitful step that may result in extra motion and progress within the months and years forward.

Because the coup in February 2021, humanitarian help has been one of many high priorities together with the attraction for a direct ceasefire. Because it turned out, points associated to humanitarian help have been a lot simpler to debate with the army regime. The junta shouldn’t be focused on negotiations however does need to obtain assist from donors. 

Minister Ko Ko Hlaing, Chairman of the Job Pressure on Humanitarian Help, is the important thing particular person dealing with humanitarian efforts for the junta. An ex-army officer, he was beforehand an advisor to former president Thein Sein. 

In the course of the minister’s 75 minute dialogue with ASEAN’s particular envoy, Prak Sokhonn, Ko Ko Hlaing expressed Myanmar’s readiness to help the envoy and the ASEAN Coordinating Middle for Humanitarian Help on Catastrophe Administration (AHA). However, regardless of his pleasant tone, the minister outlined fairly powerful positions relating to the methods and signifies that humanitarian assist can come into Myanmar at the moment juncture. 

However Ko Ko Hlaing has a historical past of being powerful on permitting worldwide assist into Myanmar. When Cyclone Nargis slammed into the Ayeyarwady Delta in 2008, he wrote that cyclone victims didn’t want provides of “chocolate bars” and will as an alternative survive by consuming frogs and fish. On account of the then regime’s negligence and inaction, over a million individuals have been left homeless by Nargis, whereas 70,000 individuals died or have been reported lacking.

His article printed in state-controlled newspapers stated: “The federal government and the individuals are like mother and father and youngsters…. We, all of the individuals, have been happy with the efforts of the federal government.” In truth, the then army regime supplied little help to the tons of of 1000’s of storm victims, leaving them displaced and with out meals. 

As well as, Ko Ko Hlaing, who was then a retired colonel writing anonymously for regime-controlled media, stated that granting free entry for assist employees within the delta meant that donors “are to be given permission to examine all homes completely at will.”

He additionally stated: “Myanmar individuals are succesful sufficient of rising from such pure disasters even when they aren’t supplied with worldwide help….Myanmar individuals can simply get meals by simply fishing within the fields and ditches…Within the early monsoon, massive edible frogs are ample.”

At a time when the then junta beneath the dictator Senior Basic Than Shwe was blocking assist from ASEAN, the United Nations (UN) and the West, Ko Ko Hlaing added: “The individuals can survive with self-reliant efforts even when they aren’t given chocolate bars from [the] worldwide neighborhood.” 

This time round, in response to inside sources, Ko Ko Hlaing reiterated that exterior help can solely be distributed via assigned channels such because the Yangon Worldwide Airport or Yangon Sea Port. The sources stated that the regime wouldn’t enable any assist to undergo the varied border checkpoints with Thailand, China, India, Bangladesh, and Laos. 

Ko Ko Hlaing was very particular in stating that a number of the frontier checkpoints have been used to visitors arms to the resistance motion. 

Nonetheless, the civilian parallel Nationwide Unity Authorities, resistance teams and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have known as for abroad assist to not undergo the regime. To date, the junta has blocked and seized medical and meals provides meant for areas managed by EAOs.

Since humanitarian help is an pressing matter and the topic of intensive discussions, the regime agreed that there can be a consultative assembly someday throughout the fourth week of April. 

To arrange for future humanitarian help, the pinnacle of ASEAN’s AHA, Lee Yam Ming, was included within the ASEAN delegation. Concepts associated to the institution of Associates of Myanmar and arranging a humanitarian hall, each of which have been proposed final yr, will probably be mentioned additional with involved stakeholders together with representatives from numerous UN companies. 

At their hour-long assembly with the UN representatives in Yangon on the second day of the ASEAN envoy’s go to, virtually all of them introduced a really grim image of the present scenario in Myanmar. All UN companies face the identical difficulties working in harmful conditions throughout armed battle. They’ve to have interaction with each the authorities and the struggling residents. 

Considered one of their largest challenges is having access to the weak individuals who have been displaced in numerous components of the nation. In keeping with the newest figures from the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees, there are almost half one million internally displaced individuals in Myanmar, particularly within the north, northeast and southeast.

At present, the AHA is working with Myanmar’s Pink Cross Society and UN companies to offer much-needed assist. It’s hopeful that the upcoming deliberate consultative assembly on humanitarian help might give you a complete framework that allows fast entry to needy communities, in addition to offering safety and security ensures for the help employees. 

Throughout his go to, ASEAN particular envoy Prak Sokhonn didn’t meet with any representatives from the Nationwide League for Democracy (NLD) Social gathering. Myanmar’s former First Girl Daw Su Su Lwin cancelled a proposed assembly as a result of ill-health, though it’s doubtless that the NLD wouldn’t have needed her to satisfy with the envoy whereas ousted NLD leaders Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint are being detained by the regime.

Prak Sokhonn hinted at a press convention in Phnom Penh that he might have a possibility to satisfy with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sooner or later, following some optimistic responses from junta boss Senior Basic Min Aung Hlaing. 

Final October, ASEAN leaders determined to reprimand Myanmar by allowing solely non-political officers to attend ASEAN-related conferences. Since then, Myanmar has determined to skip a number of ASEAN conferences, together with final November’s particular ASEAN-China Summit. 

When regime international minister Wunna Maung Lwin met Prak Sokhonn final week, he urged ASEAN to offer Myanmar equal illustration in all ASEAN-related conferences, like all different members of the regional bloc. Nonetheless, ASEAN has made it clear that there have to be substantive progress in implementing the five-point consensus earlier than Myanmar is allowed to return to the ASEAN fold. The present ASEAN chair, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, has reiterated repeatedly that Myanmar have to be introduced again into the ASEAN household.

However, as Prak Sokhonn instructed reporters in Phnom Penh final week, all the varied events are combating and usually are not prepared to barter. So implementing the five-point consensus will take time. 

Combating has intensified in latest months. Nonetheless, the scenario may change dramatically when the wet season begins in June. There could possibly be a lull in combating, offering a brand new impetus for political dialogue, particularly if all events on the battlefield notice that nobody can win this internecine battle. That will jump-start much-needed negotiations.

Kavi Chongkittavorn is a veteran journalist on regional affairs.

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