[ The Jakarta Post ] Myanmar junta blames ‘foreign intervention’ for ASEAN summit exclusion
A spokesman for Myanmar’s military government blamed “foreign intervention” for the rare exclusion of its junta leader from a regional leaders’ summit later this month.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told the BBC Burmese news service that the United States and representatives of the European Union had pressured other leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to exclude the military leader from the summit later this month.
“The foreign interventions can also be seen here,” he said. “Before, we learned that some envoys from some countries met with US foreign affairs and received pressure from EU.”
Meanwhile, Myanmar Foreign Ministry said Saturday it was “extremely disappointed” with ASEAN’s decision to exclude its leader from an upcoming summi. “Myanmar is extremely disappointed and strongly objected (to) the outcomes of the emergency foreign ministers meeting, as the discussions and decision on Myanmar’s representation issue was done without consensus and was against the objectives of ASEAN,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed at an emergency meeting late Friday that Min Aung Hlaing will not be invited to the October 26-28 summit, current ASEAN chair Brunei said.
DPA Note: It is a good decision by ASEAN.
Inviting anyone from the Junta would effectively endorse their takeover and “take sides” in the internal conflict.
On top of that, ASEAN would make themselves “enemies” by the general public in Myanmar and discredit the standing of ASEAN.