After hosting the Group of 20 (G20) Summit, Indonesia once again became the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2023 with the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” President Widodo emphasises that ASEAN must become a stable, peaceful region and anchor of world stability that consistently upholds international law and does not become anyone’s proxy.
Indonesia also intends to promote ASEAN’s relevancy to its member and prevent ASEAN from becoming the great power competing for its influence. These remarks reflect that Indonesia aims to support more regional stability in economic, political, and security aspects.
To support these visions, ASEAN should also do more on one of ASEAN’s crucial challenges: the Myanmar issue, a military coup in early 2021. The Myanmar crisis has been a significant concern in ASEAN, and Indonesia, in its 2023 chairmanship, needs to ensure to keep the ASEAN’s relevance in the region.
A ‘failed’ Five-Point Consensus?
After almost two years, the Myanmar military coup is still ongoing, and the ineffective implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) has yet to stop political violence by the military junta.
The military junta has had no intention to abide by the 5PC, and ASEAN stated they will still ‘wait’ for a response from Myanmar while also engaging with other stakeholders.
ASEAN should not have to wait anymore, and it should try another way to pressure more on the Myanmar junta to end the civilian killings and unconstitutional regime in Myanmar.
The 5PC, as a framework, needs an implementation guideline. Noting that it aims to end violence by facilitating a national dialogue with all stakeholders, the framework must have clear indicators and timelines to ensure its implementation and progress.
The implementation also related to whether ASEAN should cooperate with the military junta known as the State Administration Council (SAC), the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), or the National Unity Government (NUG). NUCC is a political alliance of pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed organisations serving as a decision-making body in the parallel governance system. The NUG is the executive government for Myanmar’s democratic interim institutions, representing a nationwide coalition of political and military actors.
Rather than choosing one actor to engage with, ASEAN should consider to involved all these crucial actors to achieve a common understanding. As it will be challenging to talk with the junta, ASEAN can facilitate negotiation with the junta opposition first.
Indonesia needs to take a tougher stance against Myanmar
Myanmar’s crisis will remain a complicated part of Indonesia’s chairmanship, and we should not daydream about expecting Myanmar will become a democratic country in the next three or five years. Instead, the bigger pictures are to preserve and maintain regional stability and protect Myanmar’s people.
Indonesia has been actively initiating an action plan on Myanmar, and Indonesia can still propose another concrete and tougher stance to Myanmar. Rather than waiting for the military junta to change its behaviour, there are several things Indonesia should consider;
Firstly, from a diplomatic approach, Indonesia can open the opportunity for a more inclusive space where more actors from political and non-political works come together. This step is vital to understanding and recognising the condition on the ground. Facilitating or creating a platform for more practical engagement with non-political representations is needed.
ASEAN can also consider holding a specific meeting or consultation to discuss Myanmar issues, particularly on humanitarian assistance for Myanmar people. As the military regime will resist change, cooperation with other international organisations, such as the United Nations, should be implemented.
Not only on social and political sides, Indonesia, through ASEAN, could develop cooperation and partnership with the European Union (EU). The NUG has criticised ASEAN and the EU for failing to act effectively in the Myanmar crisis. Although the EU has imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar, the impacts have been limited. The EU has also supported tougher action against Myanmar and is ready to impose more sanctions packages.
Noting that both ASEAN and EU support common values, both organisations can create stronger cooperation and coordination on the Myanmar crisis, particularly in protecting the Myanmar people’s rights.
Secondly, on the harder approach, ASEAN leaders need to consider suspending Myanmar’s membership in ASEAN. Although the ASEAN has no provision to suspend or withdraw membership from the ASEAN, the block could make an ad hoc solution about Myanmar’s membership.
