The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) took the unprecedented step of barring Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing from a summit in October.
The ASEAN’s chairmanship Cambodia said that Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwinwill not be invited to the upcoming meeting. A little progress has been made among member states on reaching a consensus to invite the top diplomat of the junta. Over the months, Myanmar is increasingly isolated on the international stage, said Cambodian strongman ruler Hun Sen’s January. He was the first foreign leader who visited Myanmar since the generals seized power.
In general, Myanmar’s junta has suffered a fresh diplomatic blow as regional bloc ASEAN barred its top diplomat from attending an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers.
Cambodia, which currently holds the bloc’s rotating chairmanship, said on Thursday that the bloc members try to defuse the crisis gripping Myanmar. Meantime, Myanmar’s military government calls itself the State Administration Council (SAC).
“We have asked Myanmar to send a non-political representative instead,” Cambodia foreign ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry said.
In its Wednesday statement, ASEAN called for an immediate end to violence and for its special envoy to be allowed to visit the country soon. The move has sought to lead diplomatic efforts to tackle the Myanmar crisis.
Over one ear, Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, with more than 1,500 civilians since killed in crackdowns on anti-junta protests, according to a local monitoring group.
