Post by : Saif Rahman

In a significant diplomatic push, the Philippines has convened key political stakeholders from Myanmar to accelerate peace initiatives. Acting as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines hosted a special meeting amid ongoing violence in Myanmar.

Taking place in Tagaytay, the assembly gathered influential political factions from Myanmar. Philippine officials emphasized the aim of fostering open dialogues to mitigate violence, enhance humanitarian aid, and resume substantive political discussions. Leading the talks was Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, who also holds the position of ASEAN’s special envoy addressing the Myanmar crisis.

Lazaro urged participants to candidly and constructively express their opinions on advancing the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, a peace roadmap established in 2021 following Myanmar’s military coup. This strategy advocates for an immediate cessation of violence, inclusive dialogue, humanitarian support, and ongoing engagement by an ASEAN envoy. However, despite these ambitions, the plan has made limited strides as conflict persists across various regions in Myanmar.

Earlier this January, Lazaro met with Myanmar’s top military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, which Philippine officials characterized as a positive and constructive engagement. Notably, the military government did not attend the Tagaytay meeting; participants specifically requested their anonymity.

Since the coup in 2021, Myanmar has grappled with profound unrest, spiraling into a widespread civil war involving the military and numerous armed resistance groups. The humanitarian toll has been catastrophic, with thousands of casualties and millions displaced. The United Nations estimates that around 3.6 million individuals are now uprooted, marking Myanmar as one of Asia’s gravest humanitarian crises.

ASEAN’s mission to ameliorate the situation has faced considerable hurdles. Despite slight advancements in humanitarian access, actual progress towards enduring peace remains elusive. Malaysia, the previous ASEAN chair, sought engagement from various conflict parties, expressing optimism about productive dialogue. The Philippines seems determined to continue and broaden these diplomatic efforts promptly during its chairmanship.

Complicating matters, Myanmar is undergoing a phased general election, with two rounds of voting completed that reportedly favored a military-aligned party. A final round is anticipated soon. The military claims this election will foster stability; however, voter turnout has been subpar, and critics argue the process favors military rule. ASEAN has opted not to send election monitors, with several international entities condemning the election’s credibility.

Some of the rebel factions attending the Tagaytay talks responded with cautious optimism. One ethnic minority group described the discussions as promising and commended the Philippines for engaging multiple stakeholders early in the chairmanship. The group expressed hope that continued dialogue might ameliorate the prevailing crisis.

While significant challenges persist, the Philippines’ initiative indicates ASEAN’s renewed commitment towards addressing the Myanmar crisis. The potential for these discussions to yield constructive outcomes hinges on ongoing engagement, trust-building efforts, and a sincere dedication from all parties involved to strive for peace.

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