Nine out of the 10 members of ASEAN want a draft UN resolution to drop a call for an embargo on arms supplies to the Myanmar military in the wake of its February 1 coup d'etat and the ensuing brutal crackdown.

A key reason for this is ASEAN's need to keep open channels for dialogue with the military.

In a letter in response to a resolution drafted by Liechtenstein, reportedly with the support of close to 50 other countries, nine members of ASEAN, excluding Myanmar, asked for the removal of a sentence calling for "an immediate suspension" of sales or transfers of weapons and munitions to Myanmar.

Reuters reported that the letter, dated May 19, said the draft resolution "cannot command the widest possible support in its current form, especially from all countries directly affected in the region".

Further negotiations are needed "to make the text acceptable, especially to the countries most directly affected and who are now engaged in efforts to resolve the situation", it said.

"It is also our firm conviction that if a General Assembly resolution on the situation in Myanmar is to be helpful to countries in ASEAN, then it needs to be adopted by consensus," the letter said.

The military's crackdown on protests against its seizure of power has, according to multiple reports, left more than 800 civilian protesters dead. Many hundreds more, including journalists, have been thrown in jail.

THE STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK