Junta urged to let ASEAN diplomat meet Suu Kyi

Myanmar situation raises concerns

October 15, 2021 10:53 pm | Updated 10:54 pm IST - Sydney

Aung San Suu Kyi. File.

Aung San Suu Kyi. File.

Eight countries and the EU diplomatic chief on Friday urged the Myanmar junta to let a regional special envoy meet ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The call comes as concerns grow over the military government’s commitment to a “five-point consensus” agreed with regional bloc ASEAN to defuse the bloody crisis that erupted after Myanmar’s February 1 coup.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers met virtually on Friday evening to debate whether to exclude Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing from an upcoming summit over his government’s intransigence.

Brunei, which currently holds ASEAN’s rotating chair, will issue a statement on Saturday on the meeting’s outcome, diplomatic sources said.

The military authorities have said they will not allow ASEAN special envoy Erywan Yusof to meet anyone currently on trial, which includes Suu Kyi.

In a joint statement, the U.S., Britain, Australia, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Norway and East Timor say they are “deeply concerned about the dire situation in Myanmar” and urged Naypyidaw to “engage constructively” with the special envoy.

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