ASEAN Summit, Agreement on "Ending Violence in Myanmar Crisis and Releasing Political Prisoners"

Min Aung Hlaing (left), the Commander-in-Chief and key figure in the Myanmar military coup, arrived on the 24th (local time) at the international airport in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend the ASEAN special summit and was welcomed upon arrival. The seven heads of state, including Brunei, the ASEAN chair country, are scheduled to hold a special meeting on the same day to seek solutions to the Myanmar situation. (Photo by AP. Yonhap) [Image source: Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The ten ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member country leaders reportedly agreed on five points, including an end to violence, on the 24th to discuss the Myanmar situation.

At the special meeting held in Jakarta that day, Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military who led the coup, attended in person. According to Reuters citing diplomatic sources, the participating leaders agreed not only on ending violence but also on ▲the release of political prisoners, ▲the initiation of dialogue to resolve the situation, ▲allowing humanitarian aid, and ▲appointing an ASEAN special envoy.

The special summit held at the ASEAN Secretariat building in Jakarta reportedly lasted for about two hours starting around 1:30 PM. The leaders of three countries?Thailand, the Philippines, and Laos?were absent, with their foreign ministers attending instead. ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi announced that the meeting results would be disclosed soon.

After the meeting, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said, "The leaders have reached an agreement regarding the Myanmar situation." President Joko Widodo stated at the meeting that "an ASEAN special envoy will be appointed to cooperate with all parties inside Myanmar, a channel will be opened for humanitarian aid, and the release of all political prisoners was demanded."

Regarding this, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters after the meeting, "Commander-in-Chief Hlaing listened to us well and said he thought it was helpful," adding, "He said he does not oppose ASEAN playing a constructive role, the visit of the ASEAN special envoy, or humanitarian aid, and that he wants to cooperate constructively with ASEAN."

Commander-in-Chief Hlaing reportedly focused on explaining the internal situation of Myanmar during his allotted speaking time that day.

On the same day, Myanmar citizens and the democratic camp opposed Commander-in-Chief Hlaing’s attendance at the summit itself, raising their voices calling him a "perpetrator of crimes against humanity" and a "murderer."

ASEAN member countries stated that they invited him because dialogue is necessary to resolve the situation, but they do not recognize him as the head of government.

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