Southeast Asian nations urge halt to violence in Myanmar

Southeast Asian overseas ministers urged a halt to violence and the beginning of talks about a peaceful solution on Myanmar, where in fact the military seized power from an elected government and is going to be escalating its utilization of mass arrests and deadly force against tranquil protesters.

Myanmar's leading diplomat briefed other foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations throughout a video recording conference on Tuesday (Mar 2), according to the meeting's agenda.

It had been the first assembly of foreign ministers of the 10-member ASEAN because the Feb 1 coup, when Myanmar's military detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders.

Brunei, which heads ASEAN this year, had proposed a joint statement get issued following the meeting. However the ministers apparently failed to agree on a declaration, and Brunei issued its chairman's statement.

“We expressed our concern over the problem in Myanmar and called on the subject of all parties to avoid instigating even more violence, and for all sides to exercise utmost restraint as well as flexibility. We also known as on all parties concerned to seek a calm solution, through constructive dialogue," the statement said.

It also said the ministers “heard calls” for the launching of political prisoners and for the UN particular envoy on Myanmar to play a good mediating role, without identifying who made those proposals.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi led efforts to lobby for the ASEAN meeting. She has visited additional member countries in latest weeks, incorporating Thailand, where she kept three-approach talks with Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai and Myanmar’s new international minister, retired army colonel Wunna Maung Lwin, who likewise traveled to Thailand.

“This example is worrisome,” Marsudi said after Tuesday's meeting, “It is worrisome because a growing number of civilians possess shed their lives and so are injured, it’s worrisome because there are still arrests of civilians, it’s worrisome because this situation could threaten the transition of the democratic process.”

She needed a restoration of democracy and a return to normalcy. “This ASEAN conference was to go over and discover a solution. However, it requires two to tango. The will and goodwill of ASEAN to help will not be applied if Myanmar will not wide open its doors to ASEAN,” she said.

Singapore and Malaysia also have urged Myanmar’s military junta to prevent the use of violence.

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Monday that his nation was "appalled" by Myanmar’s use of lethal force against unarmed civilians, calling it "inexcusable".

He said prolonged instability found in Myanmar would bring about serious consequences for this and the spot. He urged the launch of Aung San Suu Kyi and various other political detainees, declaring it was the only method to jumpstart negotiations and go back to the road of democratic transition.

Although ASEAN has extended operated on a principle of non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs and its own decisions are made by consensus, Balakrishnan said the group can take up a key role in facilitating Myanmar’s return to normalcy.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein also urged ASEAN to take up a far more proactive role and said Malaysia viewed the military takeover as a setback to Myanmar’s democratic transition during the past decade. He urged the military to uphold the rule of legislation and respect the people’s to calm assembly and freedom of expression.

“It is very important that ASEAN leads a sincere debate and constructively build relationships Myanmar and all stakeholders showing that ASEAN is effective as a good cohesive regional grouping,” he said before Tuesday's meeting.

The Philippine delegation said, "Our call is for the entire go back to the previously existing state of affairs,” adding that the first rung on the ladder ought to be the immediate relieve of Aung San Suu Kyi, followed by a dialogue.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.