MT News
Thomas Andrew, United Nations Special Rapporteur, said on 21 June that he is worried about the invitations to Myanmar to attend the formal meetings of ASEAN although attacks on civilians in conflict-affected Myanmar are getting worse.
“I am worried about the participations of Myanmar at the ASEAN Defense Meetings,” Andrew said at a news conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.
He referred to the attendance of Commander-in-Chief (Air) General Tun Aung as a chairman of ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference for 2023. General Tun Aung was added to the blacklist by US, UK, Canada and EU with the accusations of air attacks on the villages in Myanmar.
The invitations can harm and lessen the dignity of ASEAN as well as urge Myanmar to become official among the world, deepening crisis in the country, he said.
The ASEAN said the meetings are just technological conferences and there is no violation against the political cooperation of Myanmar at the conferences, Andrew added.
But he said he cannot accept the invitations and Myanmar should not be attended the ASEAN meetings.
Moreover, he urged Indonesia to show its leadership in Southeast Asia and not to invite Myanmar to attend the meetings together with other ASEAN nations.
