2025-05-21T14:30:41Z

---

JAKARTA, Indonesia - In a decisive move to tackle the ongoing civil war in Myanmar under military rule, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to conduct two crucial meetings focused exclusively on this pressing issue. This announcement was made by the bloc's Secretary-General, Kao Kim Hourn, during an interview at the ASEAN secretariat building in Jakarta on May 21, 2025. The meetings will take place in Malaysia, just ahead of the upcoming ASEAN summit scheduled for next week.

The 10-member grouping has been increasingly alarmed by the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where an estimated 3.5 million people have been displaced due to relentless violence between the ruling junta and various rebel factions since the military ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. The situation has escalated significantly, prompting ASEAN to reiterate its calls for a cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue.

Myanmar's ruling generals have faced considerable backlash from the international community and were subsequently barred from attending ASEAN summits following the military coup. Despite ASEAN's initial peace proposal, known as the 'Five Point Consensus,' introduced in 2021, progress has been disappointingly slow, resulting in an escalating crisis that the organization is now forced to confront more directly.

In his interview, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that these two meetings will be solely dedicated to discussing Myanmar, indicating a focused approach that diverges from the broader agenda typically addressed in ASEAN gatherings. He did not provide specific details regarding the topics up for discussion or mention any new proposals that might emerge from these meetings.

The first meeting will involve the current, previous, and next chair nations of ASEAN: Malaysia, Laos, and the Philippines. Following that, the bloc's foreign ministers will convene in the second meeting to further deliberate on Myanmar's situation.

The aftermath of the coup has plunged Myanmar into a state of chaos, with the military struggling to maintain control over a country rife with ethnic minority rebellions and a burgeoning pro-democracy movement. Numerous reports have surfaced accusing the military of committing widespread human rights abuses, including airstrikes on civilian targets, which the government has dismissed as Western propaganda.

When pressed about the current lack of progress in Myanmar, Kao Kim Hourn defended ASEAN's approach, describing it as 'beautiful' but underscoring the need for all parties to actively engage in its implementation. He acknowledged that it would be unrealistic for any stakeholder to expect a rapid resolution to such a complex issue. 'We need to remain patient,' he stated. 'As long as we can reduce the scale of fighting and bring parties to the negotiating table, we are making progress.'

Despite a reported ceasefire following a major earthquake in March, Kao Kim Hourn refrained from commenting on the military's alleged airstrikes during this period, highlighting the ambiguity surrounding violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The Secretary-General also addressed ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, asserting that ASEAN nations and China are committed to finalizing a long-awaited code of conduct for the contested waters by the end of next year. He reiterated the necessity of maintaining peace in the region to avoid escalating tensions and potential conflicts.

In a more optimistic note, Kao Kim Hourn mentioned that ASEAN is making strides toward admitting East Timor as its 11th member, as the nation has reportedly met several criteria necessary for membership. 'It is likely that we could see this happen later this year,' he concluded.