Myanmar’s place in ASEAN underwent contentious exchanges: Marcos

Marcos said while some leaders wanted to “completely kick out” Myanmar from ASEAN, others wanted to fully engage with both high and low-ranking officials. (File photo: Office of the President/Facebook)

MANILA – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) clashed over the “contentious” issue of whether or not Myanmar should stay as its member after spiraling into conflict since its military ousted its civilian government in February last year.

In a media interview on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Myanmar crisis remains a “main worry” among ASEAN leaders.

He said the ASEAN leaders were particularly concerned over the failure of Myanmar’s military to follow a Five-Point Consensus it agreed to with ASEAN in April 2021, a peace plan that sought to call for an urgent end to violence as well as step up dialogues between the military and the opposition movement.

“Actually ang main worry ng marami sa mga leaders is Myanmar (The main worry of many leaders in Myanmar). That the Five-Point [concensus] that they had agreed with ASEAN — that Myanmar had agreed with ASEAN, eh hindi nasusunod. Anong gagawin natin (But it wasn’t followed. So what are we going to do)? And that was a little contentious,” he said.

Marcos said while some leaders wanted to “completely kick out” Myanmar from ASEAN, others wanted to fully engage with both high and low-ranking officials.

“Kasi may mga bansa, sabi nila, basta tanggalin na natin ang Myanmar sa ASEAN. O basta’t huwag nating imbitahin at all. Mayroon naman nagsasabi na hindi huwag lang ‘yung mga nasa taas, pero ‘yung sa ilalim kailangan pa rin natin kausapin ‘yan (There were nations that wanted to remove Myanmar from ASEAN. Or not invite them at all. There were others who said it was important to talk to not just high-ranking officials, but lower-ranking ones),” he added.

He said the Philippines took the position of including both high and low-ranking officials in discussions.

“Sinabi ko, kausapin natin lahat. Kausapin mo pati ‘yung nasa position, pati ‘yung nasa nakaupo, pati ‘yung naka — kahit naman sino na interesado dapat kausapin natin o pag-usapin natin (I said let’s talk to everyone. Talk to those in power, those seated…and anyone interested to talk),” he said.

During the 41st ASEAN Summit Retreat, Marcos called on his fellow ASEAN leaders to heed the call for the welfare and protection of the people of Myanmar.

Marcos sought the speedy implementation of the Five-Point Consensus plan to address the crisis in the neighboring country.

He also encouraged other ASEAN leaders to continue taking a constructive approach in engaging the stakeholders in Myanmar consistent with their shared people-centered and people-oriented vision of an ASEAN.

ASEAN earlier condemned increasingly violent actions by the Myanmar junta such as the executions of democracy activists and an airstrike that killed at least 50 people.

However, it ruled out Western-style sanctions against Myanmar or expelling the nation from the 10-member group.

The regional bloc agreed to develop a plan that would speed up the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, saying the plan remains a “valid reference” that should be “implemented in its entirety”.

The leaders said ASEAN would also call on the United Nations and its external partners to support efforts to implement the consensus.