Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ASEAN envoy issues list of suggestions on Myanmar 5PC direction

ASEAN envoy issues list of suggestions on Myanmar 5PC direction

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, in his capacity as the ASEAN chair’s special envoy on Myanmar. FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY

ASEAN envoy issues list of suggestions on Myanmar 5PC direction

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn, in his capacity as the ASEAN chair’s special envoy on Myanmar, said the ASEAN five-point consensus (5PC) should be made operational and be fully implemented in order to resolve the crisis.

In his 20-page report to the ASEAN Summit held last week in Phnom Penh, which was released in full on November 17 by the foreign ministry, Sokhonn made several recommendations for ASEAN member states to consider.

Sokhonn recommended that ASEAN supplement the 5PC rather than revise it, with the additions consisting of an implementation plan that contains clear objectives, practical activities, appropriate indicators of progress and a specific timeline for achieving these steps.

He also recommended that all parties in Myanmar be held accountable for the implementation of the 5PC, including the “ethnic armed organisations” and the opposition’s National Unity Government of Myanmar, in addition to the Myanmar military’s State Administration Council (SAC).

He said what is lacking now in Myanmar is a dialogue process among the country’s conflicting parties because at the moment all sides are rejecting each other’s preconditions for negotiations.

“ASEAN should play a role to bridge these divides instead of pushing one side to make excessive compromises just to get the buy-in from the other side or to be politically correct in the face of public pressure,” he said.

Sokhonn said that restoring normal and full engagement with Myanmar should be based on the progress of the implementation of the 5PC and no other factors outside of this framework should be considered.

Sokhonn also noted that the 5PC only outlined the role of the ASEAN chair’s special envoy such as visiting Myanmar and meeting all concerned parties, but his actual work had been much more than that and it should be properly acknowledged so as to inform and benefit the next envoy.

In closing, he suggested that the secretary-general of ASEAN be empowered with an appropriate degree of autonomy on this issue for a specified period of time to give them sufficient flexibility to engage with a wider range of stakeholders.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024

    The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.