Convoy Carrying ASEAN Diplomats ‘Attacked’ in Myanmar

By AFP 8 Could 2023

YANGON—A convoy of diplomats travelling in Myanmar got here underneath fireplace from an unknown armed group, a navy official and a diplomat stated Monday.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a navy coup deposed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration in February 2021.

On Sunday a convoy of a number of autos travelling in Taunggyi township in jap Myanmar’s Shan State was attacked by an unknown armed group, a international diplomat primarily based in Yangon instructed AFP on situation of anonymity.

“A convoy with some diplomats was attacked yesterday morning,” the supply stated.

The convoy was carrying diplomats from the embassies of Indonesia and Singapore and officers coordinating humanitarian aid from the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, they added, noting that no casualties have been reported.

A senior navy official who didn’t need to be named confirmed to AFP {that a} convoy had been fired on.

The officers and diplomats had been travelling Sunday to “hand over humanitarian assist,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo stated on Monday.

“Regretfully on their means, there was a shootout,” he stated, with out giving any additional particulars.

AFP has requested the Indonesia and Singapore embassies in Yangon for remark.

Southern Shan state — house to Taunggyi township — has seen comparatively little of the violence that has ravaged Myanmar for the reason that coup greater than two years in the past.

However in March round 30 individuals sheltering at a monastery in the identical state have been killed, with the junta and anti-coup fighters buying and selling accusations over the bloodbath.

Southeast Asian leaders will this week meet in Indonesia for a summit anticipated to be dominated by the Myanmar disaster.

Lengthy slammed by critics as a toothless speaking store, ASEAN has led diplomatic makes an attempt to resolve the bloody disaster.

However its efforts have stalled because the junta ignores worldwide criticism and refuses to interact with its opponents, which embrace ousted lawmakers, anti-coup “Folks’s Defence Forces” and ethnic minority armed teams.