ASEAN foreign ministers have decided to continue banning Myanmar's military leaders from high-level summits and related meetings due to their failure to implement the bloc's Five-Point Consensus, according to an official statement cited by Khit Thit Media.

The decision was announced in a 28-point statement following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday (October 26).

According to the statement, Myanmar's military leaders will not be allowed to attend ASEAN summits and associated meetings until "meaningful progress" is made on the five-point plan. Only a "non-political representative" from Myanmar will be permitted to attend in their place.

Furthermore, the foreign ministers' statement emphasized that violence must stop and all-inclusive dialogue must occur to resolve the country's political crisis before any elections are held.

"We urge the reduction of violence and cessation of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, we emphasize that the cessation of violence and an all-inclusive political dialogue must take place before elections," the ASEAN statement read.

Regarding the Myanmar military's plans to hold an election this coming December and its invitations for observers, ASEAN declared that any election must be "free, fair, peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and credible."

The ministers also agreed to collective action to address transnational crimes stemming from the conflict, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, displacement, cyber threats, and online scams.

ASEAN affirmed it will continue to work with the United Nations and the international community to help the people of Myanmar achieve peace, stability, and democracy, and will review progress at future meetings.

BOB Post