The United Nations said more than 1.4 million people have been internally displaced, while the World Bank estimates about 40 per cent of Myanmar’s 55 million citizens live below the poverty line.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled to neighbouring ASEAN countries.
INDONESIA’S PEACE EFFORTS
Mdm Marsudi said Jakarta is working on engaging with Myanmar to implement the Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan agreed upon by all leaders of the regional bloc, including Myanmar’s military leaders.
The agreement calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue on seeking a peaceful resolution, and the provision of humanitarian aid, among other items.
Indonesia also shared developments regarding Myanmar before the UN Security Council last month.
Other efforts outlined by the foreign minister included strengthening the solidity of ASEAN’s position in dealing with Myanmar and conducting engagements with various stakeholders with the goal of encouraging an inclusive national dialogue.
Mdm Retno also outlined that Indonesia, for the first time as Chair of ASEAN, has also held meetings with a number of special envoys, including those from the UN Secretary General, as well as from Myanmar and other countries. She did not name which countries.
She said that while Jakarta will continue to build bridges on all sides in the crisis, more has to be done for Myanmar to achieve a sustainable peace.
INDONESIA AS ASEAN CHAIR
Indonesia assumed leadership of the bloc with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth” focusing on three strategic pillars – rebuilding regional growth, accelerating digital economy, and promoting sustainability and resilience.
Some areas of focus for the bloc under Indonesia’s chairmanship include the acceleration of negotiations on the framework and roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership in the grouping, working towards the ASEAN 2045 vision, and the signing of a treaty making Southeast Asia a nuclear weapon-free zone, for which the process was halted in 2012.
Other items on the agenda are regional food and energy security, strengthening healthcare architecture, financial stability and digitisation of the economy and tourism.
Indonesia will also host a flagship event later this year, the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta on Sep 5-7, which will be carried out back-to-back with the 43rd ASEAN Summit.