Hlaing of Myanmar Arrives in Jakarta for ASEAN Attendance... Democratic Camp Requests Arrest

Discussion on Myanmar Situation at ASEAN Summit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Min Aung Hlaing, the top commander of Myanmar's military junta, the highest authority in the country, arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 24th to attend the ASEAN special summit to discuss solutions to the Myanmar bloodshed crisis.

AFP quoted a video from the Indonesian government, reporting that Commander-in-Chief Hlaing arrived in Jakarta by flight from Myanmar International Airport on the same day.

This is the first time Commander-in-Chief Hlaing has traveled abroad since the coup on February 1st. He is identified as the main person responsible for the military coup that triggered the 'blood crisis' in Myanmar.

Attending the meeting as Myanmar's representative, he is expected to assert the legitimacy of the military coup. It is highly likely that he will repeat the previous claims that last November's general election was fraudulent and that a new election will be held after the state of emergency ends, transferring power to the winner.

The meeting will begin at 1:30 PM local time (3:30 PM Korean time). Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and Laos President Bounnhang Vorachith have declared their absence, with foreign ministers attending instead.

Meanwhile, according to Myanmar local media The Irrawaddy, Myanmar's pro-democracy camp has requested Interpol to arrest Hlaing on charges of committing crimes against humanity against the Rohingya and protesters. Lewin Korat, Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, urged in a letter sent to Interpol, "Interpol can cooperate with Indonesian police to arrest Hlaing while he stays in Jakarta to attend the summit."

International human rights organizations criticize inviting the head of Myanmar's military, who killed 700 civilians, to the summit, saying it legitimizes the coup and massacre.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.