MYANMAR PERFORMANCE WARNING
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, starting the meeting because chair of ASEAN, condemned Myanmar to get performing four prisoners last 30 days in defiance associated with widespread international pleas for clemency.
Myanmar was stepped into violent turmoil when the military seized power last year, ousting Aun San Suu Kyi’s civilian authorities. The death toll from the subsequent zirkel crackdown has approved 2, 100, based on local monitors.
ASEAN, long derided as a toothless talking shop that gives politics cover to repressive regimes, has spearheaded thus far fruitless initiatives to restore peace and voiced anger in the hangings.
Hun Sen said the bloc was “disappointed and disturbed” by the executions and cautioned that further usage of capital punishment means a “rethink” of the five-point peace strategy agreed to last year along with Myanmar.
The master plan calls for an immediate finish to violence plus dialogue between the junta and coup opponents.
Malaysia, which has been leading a press to get tough upon Myanmar, is demanding concrete progress to the framework ahead of a good ASEAN summit afterwards this year.
International Minister Saifuddin said last month’s accomplishments were “like a slap”.
“They are making a mockery of the five-point consensus, there is no respect towards the ASEAN leaders, there is no respect to the ASEAN chair, ” this individual told reporters.
Myanmar itself had not been represented at the conference after the other people said they would not accept a junta minister and the generals refused to send an additional official instead.
In a highly visible snub to the regime, a place was fixed for the Myanmar abordnung at the negotiating desk, complete with flag, and the chair left vacant.
SOUTH TIONGKOK SEA
In addition to Taiwan, the continuous South China Ocean tensions will be another hot-button issue on the agenda.
Beijing claims most of the sea – with contending territorial assertions from Brunei, Malaysia, the particular Philippines, Taiwan plus Vietnam.
Cambodia – a key Beijing ally – last hosted ASEAN this year and was offender of siding with China and taiwan over the disputed and resource-rich waters, leading to no communique becoming issued.