[Square] The ASEANization of the Myanmar Issue

[Asia Economy] It has already been over eight months since the Myanmar crisis, which began earlier this year, attracted international attention. Despite the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), there is still no sign of a resolution.

More than 1,100 civilians have died, and figures such as Daw Suu Kyi remain detained. As the situation failed to improve, with the military commander-in-chief announcing he would assume the prime minister position, Myanmar’s pro-democracy camp declared war on the military last month.

Despite the principle of non-interference in domestic affairs, ASEAN leaders agreed in April to initiate dialogue among all parties through the so-called ‘Five-Point Consensus.’ However, the start of the ‘Myanmar Peace Process’ still seems distant.

Although an ASEAN special envoy to mediate the dialogue was appointed with difficulty, progress in negotiations for the envoy’s visit to Myanmar remains slow ahead of the ASEAN summit scheduled for the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to the collapse of its economic and social systems amid political instability.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have warned that over 6 million people, more than 10% of Myanmar’s population, will face famine this year. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also predicts that by next year, 25 million people?half of Myanmar’s population?will fall into poverty.

To make matters worse, Myanmar’s COVID-19 situation is deteriorating. As of the end of September, confirmed cases reached 460,000, with 17,000 deaths recorded.

Despite the third wave, the vaccination rate is only 7% of the population. In addition to a lack of medical facilities, the participation of many healthcare workers in the civil disobedience movement raises concerns about the paralysis of the health system. In short, the political predicament is intensifying the humanitarian difficulties, signaling a complex crisis.

In this context, ASEAN’s active humanitarian support for Myanmar is noteworthy. Although political progress remains sluggish, ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi is personally leading humanitarian assistance efforts for Myanmar.

Following an international conference convened in mid-August to encourage participation in humanitarian aid for Myanmar, emergency medical supplies were delivered to Myanmar in the first phase last month.

Our government has responded to these self-help efforts by donating $1 million to ASEAN. Domestic private organizations such as the Korean Red Cross and local governments are also contributing funds collected bit by bit to support emergency relief activities for the people of Myanmar.

Through such support, it is believed that the central axis of the New Southern Policy being ‘people’ will be demonstrated, further strengthening the Korea-ASEAN strategic partnership.

Since my appointment to Jakarta in May 2019, I have witnessed ASEAN’s efforts to directly address issues within ASEAN.

Amid various competing visions for the Indo-Pacific region, ASEAN’s establishment of the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)’ is a representative example. ASEAN also led the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest multilateral free trade agreement.

ASEAN’s initiative to resolve the Myanmar issue, including humanitarian aid, can also be seen as part of efforts to ‘ASEAN-ize ASEAN issues.’

It is hoped that ASEAN’s self-help efforts will contribute not only to overcoming Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis but ultimately to normalizing Myanmar’s domestic politics and advancing regional peace.

Lim Sung-nam, Ambassador to ASEAN

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