The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) said they are “strongly disappointed” and is denouncing the execution of four opposition activists in Myanmar.
In a statement, Cambodian Foreign Ministry, as chair of the Asean Standing Committee this year, said “despite” appeals by their Prime Minister Hun Sen, Myanmar junta went ahead with the execution of veteran democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu and former National League for Democracy lawmaker Phyo Zayar Thaw, along with Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw.
Their deaths mark the first judicial executions in the country in decades, and human rights groups fear more will follow.
“This is an issue that ASEAN takes seriously,” the Cambodian foreign ministry said.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Asean has been pressing Myanmar junta to institute reforms to reconcile with the prodemocracy leaders whom they ousted in a coup in 2021.
Human rights activists say there were 2,100 people killed in Myanmar since the 2021 coup.
“While the complexity of the crisis is well recognized and the extreme bellicose mood can be felt from all corners of Myanmar, ASEAN as a whole has called for utmost restraint, patience and efforts to avoid escalating the situation,” Phnom Penh said.
Asean also noted that the timing of the death sentences “is highly reprehensible” as it came a week before the 55th Asean Ministerial Meeting.
“It created a setback to and present a gross lack of will to support the efforts, particularly by the ASEAN Chair, in expediting progress on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), namely in building trust and confidence to engender a dialogue among all parties concerned, in order to end violence and alleviate the suffering of the innocent people,” the Asean added.
The five steps the regime agreed to with the ASEAN leaders are: an immediate end to violence in the country; dialogue among all parties concerned; the appointment of a special envoy; provision of humanitarian assistance by ASEAN; and a visit by the bloc’s special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties.
“ASEAN remains committed to the principles of the ASEAN Charter and the mandate of the
5PC. Cambodia, as the ASEAN Chair, wishes to echo the overwhelming voices within ASEAN and the international community in urging the authorities in Naypyitaw to take concrete actions to effectively and fully implement the 5PC,” the Asean chair added.
Aside from the Myanmar junta, all “parties concerned” are strongly and urgently called on “to desist from taking actions that would only further aggravate the crisis, hinder
peaceful dialogue among all parties concerned, and endanger peace, security and stability, not only in Myanmar, but the whole region.”
“ASEAN remains resolved to assist Myanmar’s return to normalcy and democratic transition and to find a peaceful political solution to the current crisis through inclusive dialogue that is Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned, in line with the 5PC and the ASEAN Charter. This is urgently needed to prevent further loss of lives and end the suffering of the people of Myanmar,” the statement added.