DistantNews
Support us
Southeast Asia proposes permanent special envoy for Myanmar crisis
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

Southeast Asia proposes permanent special envoy for Myanmar crisis

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Southeast Asian foreign ministers proposed appointing a permanent special envoy for Myanmar to more effectively address the crisis stemming from the 2021 military coup.
  • The proposal, which aims to overcome the ineffectiveness of rotating envoys, will be presented to bloc leaders in November.
  • ASEAN maintains its

Southeast Asian foreign ministers have proposed appointing a permanent special envoy to Myanmar, aiming to more effectively address the ongoing crisis sparked by the 2021 military coup. The current system of rotating special envoys, changing annually, has proven ineffective, according to Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro, who currently holds the rotating position.

We are working on all the details of the proposal, which is expected to be presented to the bloc's leaders at the November summit.

— Theresa LazaroPhilippine Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro confirmed the proposal during a press conference in Manila.

"A special envoy who changes every year... is not very effective. Someone permanent is needed who understands all the details," Lazaro stated during a press conference in Manila. The proposal is expected to be presented to ASEAN leaders at their summit in November. Lazaro is preparing a visit to Myanmar before the summit and has also met with representatives of Burmese rebel groups.

The ASEAN bloc has maintained its "Five-Point Consensus," a roadmap agreed upon with the Myanmar junta to resolve the crisis. This agreement includes an end to violence against civilians, dialogue among all parties, and the release of political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the bloc has vetoed the coup leader, Min Aung Hlaing, and his foreign minister from high-level meetings due to a lack of progress in implementing the consensus.

A special envoy who changes every year... is not very effective. Someone permanent is needed who understands all the details.

— Theresa LazaroLazaro explained the rationale behind the proposal for a permanent envoy.

Recently, Myanmar's military denied Lazaro's request to meet with Suu Kyi, who was reportedly moved from prison to house arrest in an unknown location in April. Despite these setbacks, Lazaro expressed optimism about ASEAN's commitment to helping Myanmar find a lasting solution. The 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into a deep political, social, and economic crisis, leading to widespread internal conflict.

I am optimistic about our commitment to helping Myanmar with a lasting solution.

— Theresa LazaroLazaro expressed her outlook on ASEAN's efforts.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog