ASEAN Applauds Myanmar Plan to Free Thousands of Prisoners

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - ASEAN will welcome the release of more than 4,000 detainees in Myanmar in a chairperson's statement to be released at a summit in the Philippines, according to a draft obtained by Kyodo News, as reported by ANTARA.

"We viewed the release of prisoners in Myanmar as a positive step toward inclusive national dialogue among all parties in Myanmar," the draft reads. The statement is scheduled to be released on Friday after leaders of 11 ASEAN countries meet in Cebu, central Philippines.

The draft, shown to Kyodo News by an ASEAN source, listed Win Myint, Myanmar's former president under the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, among the detainees to be released. ASEAN also encouraged the release of other detainees "in the spirit of reconciliation and sincere dialogue."

Meanwhile, ASEAN leaders will express deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Myanmar and note there has been little progress in implementing a five-point consensus to address the political crisis in the country.

Suu Kyi was ousted in a military coup in 2021 and imprisoned on various charges, including corruption. Recently, Myanmar's military government transferred her from prison to house arrest. Although ASEAN has sidelined Myanmar since the coup, the regional bloc has reiterated that Myanmar remains an integral part of ASEAN.

According to the draft, ASEAN only acknowledges that Myanmar held staged elections until January, which installed former military chief Min Aung Hlaing as president. The election was rejected by a number of Western countries and the Myanmar opposition, who considered it a sham election to legitimize the military government permanently.

The Philippines is currently prioritizing discussions on the energy crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East, so it remains to be seen whether ASEAN will impose additional restrictions on Myanmar.

ASEAN consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Timor Leste.

Read: Myanmar: What's Behind Suu Kyi's Transfer to House Arrest?

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