Malaysia Must Seize the Pivotal Developments in Myanmar

April 2024 has seen pivotal developments in Myanmar, re-upping attention to the deepening crisis and the various efforts to mitigate it. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Myanmar on 4 April, focusing on the situation in Rakhine State, drew global attention to the dire circumstances in Myanmar and the broader implications for regional stability. The passing of a resolution on Myanmar by the United Nations Human Rights Council by consensus on 6 April highlights the UN’s concern against the ongoing human rights violations by the State Administration Council (SAC) regime and the need for immediate action.

In Myanmar, the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC)’s convening of the second post-coup People’s Assembly (PA) on 4 April showed more steps being taken for inclusivity. Attended by more than 300 people, this second PA included Rohingya participants for the first time. The inclusion is due to the efforts of the Rohingya in convening a committee towards the formation of their own consultative body. Still, the Rohingya people’s continued lack of citizenship rights under the 1982 Citizenship Law remains a pressing issue. Briefing the UNSC, Malaysia’s Deputy Permanent Representative Mr. Sofian Akmal Abd Karim highlighted the urgency of addressing the Rohingya’s marginalisation and statelessness under international human rights law. 

Since September 2021, Myanmar’s resistance movement has notably intensified. Ethnic Resistance Organisations (EROs) supporting the resistance movement, various People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) under the National Unity Government (NUG) chain of command, as well as other PDF and local defence forces, have coordinated their actions. Last October, Operation 1027 was launched in Northern Shan State and was followed by offensives in Rakhine, Kachin and Kayin States, among others. The various EROs have taken control of important border-trade crossing points on Myanmar’s borders with China, India, and most recently, Thailand. Despite its claims to the contrary, the junta has steadily lost administrative control across the country.

On the diplomatic front, the appointment of Ms Julie Bishop, former Australian foreign minister (FM), as UN Special Envoy (UN SE) on Myanmar presents an important opportunity to coordinate the international community’s response to the Myanmar crisis. As the UN SE is tasked with facilitating dialogue, ensuring humanitarian access, and enhancing ASEAN’s peace strategies, consulting with the UN SE (and ASEAN) will be crucial for Malaysia as it prepares for its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship turn. I hope Ms Bishop will also further the good works of her predecessor Dr Noeleen Heyzer, including coordinating approaches with the ASEAN SE. The UN and ASEAN have monitored and made efforts to ameliorate the plight of the Rohingya since late 2016.

The evolving conflict dynamics in Myanmar mean that Malaysia’s proactive preparation for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 becomes increasingly crucial. Malaysia, along with ASEAN members and the international community, must adopt a forward-looking approach to navigate the complex political and social landscape in Myanmar. This entails not only addressing the current challenges but also seizing opportunities to foster inclusive dialogue, peace, and stability. What is needed is the promotion and implementation of long-lasting solutions that uphold human rights, democracy, and regional stability. Malaysia’s preparation must be strategic and well-informed on the latest happenings in Myanmar and take into account the people’s narrative and struggle.

…the real way forward is to work on a framework that has a clear endgame and to lay out the matters and processes required to achieve that.

Given these latest developments, the Malaysian government must seize the moment and do more now. Malaysia must enhance its role, including using creative ways to show solidarity and support for the Myanmar people’s struggle. Malaysia must enhance its engagement with the NUG, the NUCC, and other important stakeholders, and urge ASEAN to do the same.

Between 2018 and 2022, during my two tours as FM, I met with NUG FM Daw Zin Mar Aung and other members of the NUG cabinet, NUCC Chairman and other leaders. I relayed Daw Zin Mar’s messages to my ASEAN colleagues.

During Indonesia’s ASEAN Chairmanship last year, FM Retno Marsudi and her team organised over 180 meetings with major Myanmar stakeholders. The aim was to push forward the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and work towards the convening of inclusive dialogues for a comprehensive and durable political solution to the Myanmar crisis.  

ASEAN should follow through on those deliberations but besides that, today, ASEAN must be more realistic. As the 5PC was formulated to address the situation in 2021, its broad framework requires an update, given the escalation of violence and the military’s continued atrocities and intransigence. The Myanmar people are disappointed in the 5PC.

From my engagements, I gather that the real way forward is to work on a framework that has a clear endgame and to lay out the matters and processes required to achieve that. This can be done only through inclusive consultation and agreement with the NUG, the NUCC and the people’s stakeholders, as part of the Federal Democracy Charter roadmap.

The endgame is a democratic, inclusive, just, peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous Myanmar, with constitutional guarantees for civil and political rights. This involves, among other things, fair and transparent humanitarian aid, transition plans, and implementing parties (for ceasefire, stabilisation, and post-war transition), resolving citizenship issues, and convening a free and fair election under a People’s Constitution.

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