SECRETARY of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. joined the call of the Asean chair and the other leaders to recommend the de-escalation of conflict in Myanmar, as well as conducting dialogue among concerned parties and mediation through a special envoy to be appointed by the region—including the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the peoples of the besieged country.
The Philippines’s top diplomat supported the bloc’s consensus to appoint either the Asean secretary-general or the Asean chair to visit Myanmar and initiate talks among concerned parties, with the view to improve the situation on the ground. He emphasized Brunei’s role as chair puts it in a strong position to lead Asean as it offers assistance to Myanmar in ending violence, restoring peace, and facilitating its return to political normalcy. He also reiterated his previous calls for the immediate release of political prisoners.
The meeting was conducted in a candid and “family-style” manner, where member-states expressed their concerns on the mounting death toll and the escalating violence against civilians following the takeover of the government by the Myanmar Armed Forces, locally known as the Tatmadaw.
Locsin recalled how Asean came together to support the Philippines during the 1986 People Power Revolution, then called for all parties in Myanmar to restore national unity and resolve the crisis peacefully.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s chairman of the State Administration Council, said his country is focused on restoring peace and stability to improve the current situation, and that his compatriots would consider Asean’s positive and sound proposals, taking into account their domestic situation.
Duterte designated Locsin as his special envoy to the meeting. Urgent matters in the region—including key initiatives on pandemic recovery, Asean’s external relations, as well as regional and international issues—were also discussed.
Following a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi of Indonesia upon his arrival in Jakarta, Locsin attended a working dinner among foreign ministers on April 23 at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare for the Asean Leaders’ Meeting.
The gathering was the first face-to-face event convened among Asean heads of state and governments as well as their special envoys since the pandemic’s onset.