SHOCKING - Why is PM Anwar Ibrahim meeting with the Myanmar Junta Head, a 'policy shift' for Malaysia?
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had a “frank and constructive” discussion with Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing today. In a Facebook post, Anwar said their discussion touched, among others, on the importance of “returning the country to normalcy”, adding that he would also meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG)....He said he and Min discussed the immediate deployment of a field hospital in the country after the recent earthquake.
In the ongoing civil wars, former Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin said that the Junta now only retains control of 30% of the country, and as such is losing the war.
Myanmar's military junta has continued to bomb parts of the war-torn country following the major earthquake there, which has killed more than 1,600 people. The UN has described the attacks as "completely outrageous and unacceptable". Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews told the BBC that it was "nothing short of incredible" that the military was continuing to "drop bombs when you are trying to rescue people" after the earthquake. He called on the military regime, which seized power in a coup nearly four years ago to stop all military operations. - BBC, 30/3/2025
So what is PM Anwar Ibrahim doing, also as ASEAN head? Did he even condemn the junta's air strikes that killed people immediately after the earthquake, whilst rescue efforts were ongoing?
The similarities with what the Israeli regime is doing to Palestine is apparent - and would this meeting be seen as a RECOGNITION of the Military Junta as the 'LEGITIMATE' government of Myanmar by Malaysia, and ASEAN?
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), at least 6,231 civilians have been killed by the military, including 1,144 women and 709 children, over the past four years. - UN Website
An analysis of the conflict throughout 2024 found that as the military’s grip on power eroded, it launched wave after wave of retaliatory airstrikes and artillery shelling on civilians and civilian populated areas, forced thousands of young people into military service, conducted arbitrary arrests and prosecutions, caused mass displacement, and denied access to humanitarians, even in the face of natural disasters....“After four years, it is deeply distressing to find that the situation on the ground for civilians is only getting worse by the day,” said UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. “Even as the military’s power wanes, their atrocities and violence have expanded in scope and intensity,” he said, adding that the retaliatory nature of the attacks were designed to control, intimidate, and punish the population.
“This military-created human rights crisis has caused untold suffering through indiscriminate attacks against civilians, denial of humanitarian aid, and systematic violations of human rights.- UN Website
THE ASEAN CHAIR MEETING THE MYANMAR JUNTA LEADER IN BANGKOK IS A STEP IN THE WRONG DIRECTION1. As FM[Foreign Minister] (twice before) and previous Malaysian governments (from the coup in Myanmar, until PM9) were consistent in not recognising the junta, both in bilateral and multilateral relations. ASEAN did not invite the junta leader and ministers to its Ministerial meetings and Summits.2. I have said since my time as FM, and maintained, that Malaysia and ASEAN should engage the NUG[National Unity Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar], NUCC [National Unity Consultative Council] and the peoples' stakeholders. As FM, I have met the NUG FM and NUCC Chairman a few times, and also met with the FM recently.3. I have called on Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair, to engage the NUG, NUCC and the peoples' stakeholders.4. Today, the junta is only in control of about 30% of the country.5. The junta is losing.6. We should not allow the junta to use the recent earth quake to normalise its international relations. Already they have weaponised the assistance sent there.7. Hence, the ASEAN Chair's meeting the junta general is a step in the wrong direction, especially when nothing thus far is mentioned about engaging the NUG, NUCC and the peoples' stakeholders.Dato Sri Saifuddin Abdullah,MP for Indera Mahkota; former FM[Foreign Minister] of Malaysia(17 Apr 2025)
Should Malaysia recognize and deal with the the NUG[National Unity Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar], as the legitimate government of the people of Myanmar?
Should not AID be flowing through the NUG, NUCC and other peoples' stakeholders, rather than the junta headed by Min Aung Hlaing? Even Malaysia's offer for assistance by setting up a field hospital have been 'POSTPONED' by the Junta?
Will Malaysia and ASEAN adopt a POLICY of accepting refugees from Myanmar - and absolutely respect the principle of 'non-refoulement'(sending them back to Myanmar).
Malaysia's coast guard escorted away from its waters two boats carrying almost 300 undocumented Myanmar migrants found in a state of exhaustion for lack of food and water, a top agency official said. - Reuters, 5/1/2025
Malaysia’s forced return of Myanmar’s most vulnerable must stop: UNHCR...UNHCR’s Ms. Mantoo described the principle of non-refoulement as “a cornerstone of international law” which was “binding on all States”.The development follows a wider appeal from the UN refugee agency to countries in the region to stop forced returns of Myanmar nationals seeking safety from serious harm.
“Sending them back to the country is placing countless lives at risk,” said Gillian Triggs, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Protection. Myanmar’s neighbours should end the “indefinite detention” of asylum-seekers and refugees from the country, the senior UNHCR official maintained, while also expressing concern at the ongoing indiscriminate violence against civilians across Myanmar, since the military coup. UN, 25/10/2022
A coalition of groups representing minority Myanmar ethnicities has appealed to the Malaysian government not to deport any refugees back to their country, fearing for their safety amid the ongoing civil war....“It is not just ethnic minorities who are at risk. Anyone who supports democracy in Myanmar is faced with the decision of either staying in Myanmar at great risk or fleeing to another country,” said its coordinator, James La Seng....While many have decided to flee to Malaysia, he said, some found themselves being detained as undocumented migrants and end up getting deported to Myanmar.- FMT, 16/6/2024
PM Anwar Ibrahim must also make clear Malaysia's position on refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar - for Malaysia has been 'turning them away', possibly detaining them as 'undocumented migrants',... and we are not just talking about ...ethnic minorities who are at risk but anyone who supports democracy..
Maybe ASEAN can set up a FUND to assist ASEAN member countries who are allowing Myanmar refugees/asylum seekers to stay temporarily until democracy and peace is re-established in Myanmar. It is good for ASEAN member nations to share this burden - more so, since the affected are ASEAN citizens/people.
There has been numerous calls before that Malaysia enact a REFUGEE and Asylum Seeker law, so that refugees/asylum seekers will be recognized, and they will no longer be accorded the same treatment as undocumented migrants.
Dealing with the leaders of government is ONE thing, but there is also a need to deal with the people of Myanmar - as they are also our fellow citizens/people in ASEAN.
Anwar holds ‘frank, constructive’ talk with Myanmar’s junta head
Anwar holds ‘frank, constructive’ talk with Myanmar’s junta head
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the discussion also touched on the importance of returning Myanmar to ‘normalcy’ after a 2021 coup.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said their discussion touched, among others, on the importance of “returning the country to normalcy”, adding that he would also meet with representatives of the National Unity Government (NUG).
The NUG and National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) form the Myanmar government-in-exile, which was established after a 2021 military coup that sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the country.
Civil rights groups say the junta has arrested thousands of protesters and activists since the coup, which saw its military overthrow the democratically-elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.
The coup plunged the nation into a multi-sided civil war which has seen at least three million people displaced, according to the United Nations.
Myanmar’s military government yesterday said it would release nearly 5,000 prisoners in an amnesty to mark the country’s new year festivities, reported AFP.
“I welcome recent steps to ease tensions, including the release last night of 4,800 detainees. Such gestures are a meaningful signal,” said Anwar.
Anwar also encouraged all parties to “engage seriously” in the interest of Myanmar’s stability and the wellbeing of its people.
Asean – which Malaysia is chairing this year – wants Myanmar to implement a five-point peace plan to halt the fighting, with the ruling generals barred from attending its meetings over their failure to comply.
He said he and Min discussed the immediate deployment of a field hospital in the country after the recent earthquake.
The devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 has claimed more than 5,300 lives and compounded the already critical humanitarian crisis in the country amid the civil war.
Yesterday, foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said the mission to deploy medical officers to Myanmar to set up a field hospital was postponed at the request of Myanmar’s authorities. - FMT, 18/4/2025
Asean leaders agree 5-point plan for Myanmar
PUBLISHED : 25 Apr 2021 at 04:00
AFP and Bangkok Post
Asean leaders met Myanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Jakarta yesterday and reached a five-point consensus on how to tackle the political crisis the country is facing.
In a statement announced by Asean's chair, the Sultan of Brunei, the leaders in their five-point consensus called for 1) the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar; 2) constructive dialogue among all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people; 3) mediation to be facilitated by an envoy of Asean's chair, with the assistance of the secretary-general; 4) humanitarian assistance provided by Asean's AHA Centre and 5) a visit by the special envoy and delegation to Myanmar to meet all parties concerned.
The remarks comments followed a meeting in Jakarta of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which was the senior Myanmar general's first foreign trip since security forces staged a coup that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in early February. Gen Min Aung Hlaing has become the focus of international outrage over the coup and a subsequent crackdown on dissent that has left more than 700 dead.
"The first requested commitment is for the Myanmar military to stop the use of violence and that all parties there at the same time must refrain so that tensions can be reduced," Mr Widodo said on Saturday.
Gen Min Aung Hlaing did not make a formal public statement. But Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, who called for the release of Suu Kyi from house arrest, said the junta leader "heard us".
"He was not opposed to Asean playing a constructive role, or an Asean delegation visit, or humanitarian assistance, and that they would move forward and engage with Asean in a constructive way," Mr Lee told reporters, citing the general's comments.
Thailand's Foreign Ministry on Saturday retweeted that Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai also suggested the "D4D" as the way forward for Myanmar through de-escalating violence, delivering humanitarian assistance, release of detainees and dialogue at the Asean Summit. Mr Don represented Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the meeting.
Saturday's talks follow mass protests which have been met by a brutal crackdown that has left hundreds dead. Small protests outside the bloc's Jakarta headquarters were dispersed by security personnel. In Myanmar, protesters took to the streets again on Saturday, including in northern Kachin state, where demonstrators wore blue shirts to symbolise detainees. In Yangon, residents staged a mock funeral for the senior general by smashing saffron-coloured clay pots on the ground, symbolic of cutting ties with the dead. - Bangkok Post, 25/4/2021
Four years on from the Military Coup in Myanmar: joint statement by Australia, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States
Today marks four years since the Myanmar military regime overthrew the democratically elected government in Myanmar, creating one of the largest crises in the Indo-Pacific. Since the coup, the people of Myanmar remain subject to military rule that has deprived many of their rights, democratic aspirations and, for thousands, their liberty and their lives.
We condemn in the strongest terms the Myanmar military regime’s escalating violence harming civilians, including human rights violations, sexual and gender-based violence, and systematic persecution and discrimination against all religious and ethnic minorities. The military’s airstrikes are killing civilians, destroying schools, markets, places of worship and medical facilities; with almost a 25-fold increase since 2021 this represents an average of three airstrikes per day. The rise in airstrikes in areas with no active conflict has marked a clear escalation by the military.
We call on the Myanmar military regime to immediately de-escalate violence, ensure unhindered and safe humanitarian access across the country, and we urge all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
As of 2025, humanitarian needs have increased twenty-fold since the coup. Over one-third of the population,19.9 million people, are now in need of humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs. An estimated 15.2 million people are in need of food assistance and cases of preventable diseases are on the rise.
Increasing needs and ongoing conflict have displaced up to 3.5 million people internally - an increase of nearly one million in the last year. Many more people are forced to flee across Myanmar’s borders. Rising transnational crime, including narcotics production and trafficking, scam centres and human trafficking, harm the people of Myanmar and affect neighbouring countries, risking instability in the broader region.
The current trajectory is not sustainable for Myanmar or the region. Now is the time for the Myanmar military regime to immediately change course. We strongly urge the Myanmar military regime to cease violence, including harming civilians and civilian infrastructure, release all political prisoners, and engage in genuine and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders. These are essential first steps towards any peaceful, democratic transition, reflecting the will of Myanmar’s people.
We reiterate our support for the central role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Five Point Consensus, including the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy, in addressing the Myanmar and resultant refugee crisis. We strongly welcome collaboration between the ASEAN and United Nations (UN) Special Envoys. We call on the international community to continue to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2669 (2022). We underline the need for accountability for all atrocities committed in Myanmar, human rights must be safeguarded, violations and abuses must be prevented.
We will continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and support their vision for an inclusive, peaceful and prosperous future.https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/four-years-military-coup-myanmar-joint-statement-australia-canada-european-union-republic-korea-new_en?s=172
Don’t send us back to a war zone, Myanmar refugees appeal to govt
Don’t send us back to a war zone, Myanmar refugees appeal to govt
A coalition of Myanmar refugee groups says many who fled to Malaysia are detained for being undocumented and deported.
The Coalition of Burma Ethnics Malaysia (Cobem) said it was making this appeal for all Myanmar refugees who have sought asylum here, not just minorities.
“It is not just ethnic minorities who are at risk. Anyone who supports democracy in Myanmar is faced with the decision of either staying in Myanmar at great risk or fleeing to another country,” said its coordinator, James La Seng.
La Seng said about 70% of the country has been affected by armed conflict amid the civil war, with ethnic minority areas particularly torn by conflicts between ethnic armed groups and the military.
While many have decided to flee to Malaysia, he said, some found themselves being detained as undocumented migrants and end up getting deported to Myanmar.
This is despite some possessing refugee cards from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he said at a panel discussion held at a World Refugee Day event today.
“We thank the Malaysian government for its long-standing commitment to offering a safe haven for refugees, even though it is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its related protocols.
“We need your help now, more than ever. Don’t send us back to a war zone. Give our communities some time to stay in Malaysia, and we will try our best to contribute to Malaysia while we are here,” he said.
Katie Fung, a programme officer with rights group Tenaganita, also urged Putrajaya to have more sympathy for Myanmar refugees and to understand their predicament, saying the situation will lead to more refugees seeking asylum in Malaysia.
“This requires a collective humanitarian response from all actors, including the Malaysian government, UNHCR and civil society organisations,” said Fung, who was also on the panel.
Cobem includes the Arakan Refugee Relief Committee, Alliance for Chin Refugees, Chin Refugee Committee, Kachin Refugee Committee and Malaysia Karen Organisation, among others.
The coalition was formed in 2007 in view of the needs of Myanmar refugees in Malaysia.
Previously, home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Malaysia had never deported UNHCR cardholders, saying those detained by the immigration department would be released to the commission on humanitarian grounds.
According to a report by Human Rights Watch published in October 2022, Malaysia deported about 2,000 Myanmar nationals, including asylum seekers, from April to October that year.
Saifuddin maintained that such deportations were carried out in accordance with the immigration’s SOPs, while working with the respective foreign embassies. - FMT, 16/6/2024
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