ASEAN Reaffirms Commitment to Dialogue Over Sanctions in Resolving Myanmar Issue

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: ASEAN remains committed to resolving the Myanmar crisis through dialogue and persuasive measures, avoiding sanctions against the country, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Indonesia.

“Sanctions are not in the DNA of ASEAN countries. Moreover, ASEAN itself does not recognize the mechanism of sanctions against its member countries,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rolliansyah Soemirat, also known as Roy, during a press briefing on Monday.

He reiterated ASEAN’s stance on encouraging dialogue among all stakeholders in Myanmar to end the conflict and implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC). While sanctions are considered a last resort, Soemirat emphasized that they must be applied judiciously to prevent harm to innocent civilians.

“In any case, for Indonesia, Myanmar is part of ASEAN and will always be a part of ASEAN, becoming a member of ASEAN that we must help,” he stated, highlighting the bloc’s commitment to assisting Myanmar in resolving its internal issues.

Rejection of Unilateral Sanctions
Indonesia firmly believes that sanctions should only be imposed by multilateral entities such as the UN Security Council, which has the legitimate authority to enforce such measures. The spokesperson clarified that ASEAN’s current approach of limiting Myanmar’s participation in organizational activities does not constitute a sanction but is instead a strategic effort to provide the country space to address its internal conflict.

Since the coup in 2021, ASEAN has only allowed non-political representatives from Myanmar to participate in meetings. Additionally, the bloc has suspended Myanmar from assuming the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, appointing the Philippines as a substitute.

“This decision shows that Myanmar still has significant work to do to resolve the conflict and determine who is worthy of representing the country at ASEAN meetings,” Soemirat added.

Troika Meeting in Thailand
Indonesia confirmed its participation in the upcoming ASEAN Troika meeting scheduled to be held in Thailand on December 20, 2024. The meeting will begin with a series of informal consultations among Troika members and will later expand to include other ASEAN nations outside the Troika framework.

ASEAN continues to prioritize constructive engagement and dialogue to achieve peace and stability in Myanmar while maintaining its longstanding principle of non-interference. This inclusive and patient approach reflects the bloc’s commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.