04/22/2021 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – Concern is rising over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) decision to invite Myanmar’s military junta to a special summit being held on Saturday to discuss the recent coup in Myanmar. Some suggest that the invitation will allow other member countries to pressure the Burmese military, or Tatmadaw, to stop its violence against protestors, but others counter that the decision to invite only the Tatmadaw, and not the democratically elected National Unity Government (NUG), is an implicit endorsement of the military regime.

The Tatmadaw has killed over 700 civilians since violently seizing power on February 1, 2021.

Headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, ASEAN is a regional bloc made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Some have pointed out that several members have tenuous relationships with democracy at best, including Thailand whose Prime Minister came to power after a 2014 coup. Three others operate on a one-party system.

Historically, ASEAN has been soft on the Tatmadaw and has withheld meaningful support for democracy in Myanmar, according to pro-democracy group 88 Generations Peace and Open Society. “Throughout Myanmar’s struggle for democracy…ASEAN has always sided with the military” it said in a statement.

ASEAN’s main focus is economic cooperation, though it has collaborated on other initiatives as well. Saturday’s meeting was called to discuss the ongoing fallout from the Tatmadaw’s military action in February, including its excessive use of lethal force against protestors.

Spokespeople for ASEAN have not explained NUG’s exclusion from the event. Speaking to Voice of America in the days leading up to the summit, NUG Deputy Foreign Minister Moe Zaw Oo said that talks “will not work unless negotiating with the NUG,” adding that NUG “is supported by the people and has full legitimacy.”

The Tatmadaw has long been the main force of persecution in Myanmar, engaging in protracted military campaigns against ethnic and religious minorities across the country. The killing of hundreds of pro-democracy protestors in the last two and a half months suggests that the Tatmadaw is largely focused on solidifying its power for now, but attacks on ethnic and religious minorities have continued and are likely to increase if it manages to quell protests.

The international community should not grant the Tatmadaw the legitimacy it desires but, instead, should push back unequivocally and insist that Myanmar’s government rule by democracy and a respect for human rights.

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