It is doubtful that the image of ASEAN’s unity, centrality and way is being affected by the demands on Myanmar at the ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Plus meetings, said Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Deputy Prime Minister and Vice Chair of the State Administration Council (SAC).
He made the remarks while addressing the 6th Summit of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEANSAI) held on November 2 via video conference.
"I found it is doubtful that the image of ASEAN’s unity, centrality and way is being affected by the demands on Myanmar at the ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Plus meetings. As the Prime Minister said on April 24 meeting in Jakarta in related with the visit of ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar, the five ASEAN agreements for Myanmar will be considered in light of the current situation in Myanmar and ASEAN proposals and trips will be consideredpol depending on domestic stability. It has been discussed that if it is based on the spirit of ASEAN, ASEAN Charter and way of ASEAN, the visit of ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar will be considered for the good of the country. In addition to the various negotiations, demands and changes regarding the visit of the ASEAN Special Envoy, there have been requests for a meeting with the State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, which goes beyond legal procedures where no individual is allowed to see a person facing trial under existing law. I believe that no country can allow the current law to be violated. The State has complied with all possible exceptions to the existing law, but the ASEAN omitted Myanmar at the ASEAN Summit and related summits regarding the non-entry of the ASEAN Special Envoy and I am sad to see it is against the Article 20 (1), Article 8 (2) (a) and Article 2 (2) (a), (e) and (f) of the ASEAN Charter,” he said.
He added ASEAN countries are committed to economic development, social and cultural development, to promote peace and stability in the region under ASEAN integration. Since Myanmar became a member of ASEAN in 1997, Myanmar joined hand with the spirit of a single ASEAN family, the principles of ASEAN such as ASEAN’s unity, centrality and way, consensus and non-interference in internal affairs.
Therefore, the transgression of ASEAN’s unity, centrality and way will not only affect Myanmar, but also the other member states for a period of time or a condition and the manipulation, coercion and espionage by the out-of-ASEAN community may reach within the united ASEAN members. In other words, it is important to note that there may be implications for ASEAN countries, he said.
