ASEAN Ministers to Discuss Myanmar Crisis in Thailand

Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to meet in Thailand on December 20 to address the ongoing civil war in Myanmar that erupted following the military coup in February 2021. The meeting, organized by ASEAN's current chair Laos, will begin with an informal discussion among the ASEAN troika, comprising Indonesia, Laos, and Malaysia, to evaluate the situation and strategize on the implementation of the stalled Five-Point Consensus peace plan. This plan, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence and inclusive dialogue, has seen little success as the junta continues its military campaigns against opposition forces. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Roy Soemirat emphasized that the discussions will aim to revitalize the peace efforts and assess the junta's controversial plans for a general election in 2025. The ongoing crisis has put ASEAN's reputation at stake, prompting the bloc to seek ways to encourage Myanmar's military to engage with all parties involved in the conflict.