Latest news with #StateAdministrationCouncil
Free Malaysia Today
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Myanmar groups urged to create conducive environment for polls
The Myanmar junta has announced plans to hold an election this year despite the ongoing unrest. (Reuters pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan has called on all parties in Myanmar to create a conducive environment for elections. 'We call on all stakeholders, particularly the State Administration Council (SAC), as the de facto party in power, to commit towards peace and the creation of a conducive environment for elections, in line with the aspirations of the people of Myanmar,' he said in his opening remarks at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting today. At the foreign ministers' retreat in Langkawi earlier this year, the bloc urged Myanmar's military government to prioritise peace through dialogue and a ceasefire agreement, rather than pushing ahead with elections. It is unclear whether Mohamad's remarks signal that Asean chair Malaysia is now open to the military's planned vote, which critics call a ploy to maintain military rule under the guise of democracy. Mohamad also called for the translation of proclamations of ceasefires to concrete actions. 'Despite Asean's sustained efforts, we have yet to see meaningful progress on the ground. Delaying peace in Myanmar prolongs the suffering of the people and threatens the region's security. 'Asean will continue to support the path towards a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led peaceful resolution,' he said. Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 2021, when the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. The coup sparked widespread protests and civil unrest across the country, leading to violent crackdowns by the military junta that saw hundreds of thousands displaced. The junta has announced plans to hold an election this year despite widespread international condemnation and internal strife. Earlier during the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged in his speech the complexity of the Myanmar crisis, noting that contentious issues such as the Five-Point Consensus remained unresolved. 'When we discussed with the leaders, without exception, there was full support and confidence,' he said. 'So, similarly, after the event, we were able to engage again to seek a common platform and better understand how to proceed.'
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Asean countries must ensure smooth transition to Asean 2045 vision
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean member states must ensure a seamless transition from Asean 2025: Forging Ahead Together to Asean 2045: Our Shared Future, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said that two months ago, Asean leaders met and adopted Asean 2045: Our Shared Future, a new vision for the bloc that charts its direction for the next two decades. "The vision reaffirms that Asean's destiny lies in our own hands. Our future will not be shaped by external forces, but by our own collective resolve. As such, the work must begin now. "All Asean sectoral bodies, institutions and mechanisms should already be aligning their priorities to support the actions arising from our leaders' decision and the Asean 2045 vision," he said in his speech at the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting today. Mohamad added that as the bloc moves towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and future-oriented Asean Community, it must urgently address the existential threat posed by climate change. "We have witnessed first-hand the effects of rising temperatures, natural disasters, and extreme weather events in our region and among our peoples. Moving forward, we must take coordinated and urgent action to ensure our region remains adaptive and climate-resilient." Meanwhile, Mohamad said that since the last meeting, geopolitical fault lines have continued to widen, strategic trust has eroded, and global flashpoints have intensified. "In Europe, the war in Ukraine rages on, continuing to disrupt global markets and supply chains. "In Gaza, Israel's brutal starvation strategy continues unchecked. Emboldened by this impunity, Israel's endless violence has expanded to other countries in the Middle East, with its latest offensive attacks on Iran," he said, adding that Malaysia absolutely condemns these atrocities. Closer to home, Mohamad said the crisis in Myanmar continues to weigh heavily on Asean's conscience. "Despite Asean's sustained efforts, we have yet to see meaningful progress on the ground. Delayed peace in Myanmar prolongs the sufferings of the people and threatens the region's security. "As such, we urge the translation of proclamations of ceasefires into concrete actions, and we call on all stakeholders—particularly the SAC (Myanmar's State Administration Council), as the de facto party in power—to commit towards peace and the creation of a conducive environment for elections, in line with the aspirations of the people of Myanmar. "Asean will continue to support the path towards a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led peaceful resolution to the crisis in the country." Mohamad added that the world is witnessing the breakdown of humanity, as well as the erosion of moral and legal norms that once defined the global system. Multilateralism is under attack, while unilateralism and nationalism are on the rise. "In this fragmented world, Asean's unity and centrality are our capital. At a time where polarisation is trending, Asean must continue to leverage its convening power to promote dialogue, diplomacy and strategic trust, and to create space for cooperation. "The road ahead will not be easy. The external pressures on our unity will grow. The calls for us to take sides will get louder. The crises around the world may multiply. "Amid the uncertainty and unprecedented strain of global challenges, Asean must stand firm. Asean must be the beacon of hope, be the voice of reason, and continue to be a platform for cooperation and prosperity. "We must continue to invest and place our faith in regionalism and multilateralism. We must continue to champion the principles of justice, fairness, equality and humanity."
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Anwar: Meeting with Myanmar junta under Asean mandate
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended his meeting with Myanmar junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok last April, stating that it was conducted under an Asean mandate. Anwar stressed that the first such meeting by an Asean chair since the 2021 coup was mandated to secure a ceasefire and enable post-earthquake humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquake on March 28 in Myanmar. He said the matter was discussed with all the leaders of Asean, and none objected. "I came with that mandate. Number one, ceasefire. Of course, there may be one or two scuffles, but then it was agreed. "Number two, humanitarian assistance, transparent, no discrimination. We had our field hospital from the military, from Malaysia to serve all from all regions (in Myanmar)," he said in an interview with France 24 published on the network's digital platforms today. The Prime Minister met Min Aung Hlaing, who is also the Chairman of Myanmar's State Administration Council, in Bangkok on April 18 during his two-day working visit to Thailand. Anwar described the engagement as a strategic shift from Asean's previous non-engagement policy, which had failed to produce results. "But at least now, for a month, there's been a ceasefire. Yes, there have been complaints of one or two incidents, but not the continued bombings and destruction," he said. On the issue of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Anwar said Malaysia takes a consistent and balanced approach, adding that the country has maritime borders with multiple neighbours. "Malaysia is a maritime country. We have border issues with all our neighbours, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam. But we didn't go to war," he said. Anwar stressed that Malaysia supports Asean's collective position in urging China and all involved parties to agree on a Code of Conduct. "For 20 years, this has not happened. But the Chinese responded in Jakarta last year. They said yes, they will look at it. They are supportive," he said, adding that efforts will continue. When asked about the possibility of an actual war between the US and China over Taiwan, Anwar said he is not overly concerned about the risk of military conflict, expressing confidence that both sides would avoid war. "No, I'm not that pessimistic because I think both leaders would want to avoid war. Whatever you may say about President Donald Trump, he represents a position, a president in the US that does not want or encourage wars." Anwar also highlighted China's stance, based on his engagements with President Xi Jinping, saying the Chinese leader has been very firm on the issue of avoiding any sort of violent reaction or offensive against any country. - BERNAMA
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Myanmar kicks off intellectual property conference in Naypyidaw
YANGON: Myanmar kicked off an international conference on intellectual property in Naypyidaw on Thursday (July 3), the state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television reported. The conference was officially opened by Chairman of Myanmar's State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the report said. Speaking at the opening event, Min Aung Hlaing (pic) said that a strong intellectual property system would support industrial development and attract foreign investment, both of which are essential for building a modern and developed country. He added that Myanmar is implementing the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan, which includes the intellectual property sector, saying that the promotion of intellectual property rights will encourage creativity and innovation, contributing to the establishment of sustainable industrial businesses. Experts and scholars from both local and international institutions are scheduled to present research papers during the event. The two-day conference will continue until Friday, the report said. - Xinhua
AllAfrica
28-06-2025
- Politics
- AllAfrica
Peace theater of the absurd in Myanmar
Myanmar's State Administration Council (SAC) military regime is gearing up for elections, slated to held by the end of 2025. As part of the preparations, the junta conducted a three-day 'Peace Forum' in Naypyidaw, even as the city recovers from the devastating Mandalay earthquake in late March. In attendance were the top military leadership, diplomats, regime officials, political party leaders, signatories to the now moribund 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and a range of dignitaries and emissaries from China, India, Thailand, Russia and other states. The forum's theme was 'to examine how peacebuilding and credible elections can promote national development and state stability, ultimately laying the groundwork for united Myanmar (sic), fostering continuous, inclusive dialogue and strategic partnerships, engaging all stakeholders to identify concrete, people-centered pathways forward.' For anyone with even a passing knowledge of contemporary Myanmar, this is parallel reality delusion. The country has been in a downward spiral of war, economic decline and instability since the coup of 2021. There is no scope for peacebuilding, credible elections are a contradiction in terms, there is no unity and the only effective strategic partners are the many ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and their People's Defense Force (PDF) allies working to topple the Myanmar military. Coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing's speech, which largely conformed to most of his messaging in the first half of this year, claimed that new elections and a peace process were prerequisites for future stability and development. He said, 'to ensure broader representation of diverse groups, such as various parties and ethnic groups, I have stated that in the upcoming election at the end of this year, in addition to the currently used first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, a proportional representation (PR) system will also be applied in a mixed format.' The SAC also plans to conduct elections in phases around the country, almost certainly due to the poor security conditions in well over half the nations. There will likely be no elections in Rakhine state, northern Shan state and most of eastern Myanmar as anti-SAC armed groups hold sway there. And, of course, the coup-toppled National League for Democracy (NLD) will be barred from participating. After his speech and obligatory photo-op with attendees, Min Aung Hlaing then jumped on a plane to Belarus and Russia for his third trip there this year. The SAC-run state media provided far more coverage of the senior general's travels than his Peace Forum, including his visit to the Belmedpreparaty pharmaceutical factory in Minsk and an economic forum in St Petersburg. Chinese attendance at the Peace Forum was no surprise, with the Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Deng Xijun, who has visited Myanmar a number of times, and three academics, Xiong Shunqing, Kong Peng from Yunnan University and Jia Yu from Peking University in the lineup. Beijing, of course, doesn't believe in peace or elections; it just wants some semblance of stability and a pathway to reform. Some Myanmar opposition figures contend that China views the elections as a way to sideline Min Aung Hlaing, who they sense Beijing neither favors nor trusts, and wants to find future leaders more amenable to reality. China has also had to contend with the aftermath of Operation 1027, which saw multiple armed groups capture large amounts of territory along the Myanmar-China border in northern Myanmar, and the Arakan Army (AA) surrounding its pipeline and other infrastructure projects in Rakhine state. Min Aung Hlaing may also have added a slight, veiled rebuke to China in his speech. 'The negotiation of peace needs to be free of foreign interference and internal instigation and harassment…(r)egarding international relations, while it is necessary to be in solidarity with countries around the world, special care must be taken not to become dominated or influenced by others.' While non-interference is a routine feature of the regime's authoritarian leaders' oeuvre, he could have been referencing China's role in brokering the return of the city of Lashio from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), which the insurgent group captured in mid-2024, as well as China's relations with other armed groups in the north. Thailand's attendees included Sihasak Phuangketkeow, former deputy foreign minister, and Nothapol Booningam, former chief of staff of the Royal Thai Army. China and Thailand have been the two neighboring states most directly affected by the 2021 coup and the armed revolution against the Myanmar military. Their attendance should thus not indicate unconditional endorsement of the SAC's election agenda but rather a careful diplomatic balancing act to find pathways forward for their respective security and economic interests. But the neighbor to watch the most is India, which has been a horribly bad-faith actor in post-coup Myanmar. Indian attendees included a senior diplomat, Jaideep Mazumdar, and several Indian journalists. At the same time as the Peace Forum, pictures obtained by The Irrawaddy showed several Myanmar peace brokers attending a recent event at the Indian Embassy in Yangon, including representatives of the Swiss-based Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Center) mediation outfit. India will likely be one of the key international supporters of the elections. It is also likely Myanmar is using Indian inspired, and possibly supplied, electronic voting machines for the projected polls. Joining the Peace Forum by Zoom was the far-right Russian philosopher Aleksandr Gelyevich Dugin, a purportedly close advisor to Vladimir Putin and proponent of a school of thought called 'Eurasianism.' Dugin is also the author of a recent book about Donald Trump called 'The Trump Revolution-A New Order of Great Powers.' The SAC is thus listening to some particularly unhinged views as it stumbles towards elections and continues its ingratiation with Putin's Russia. Also in attendance was a European called 'Professor' Lorenzo Maria Pacini, who claims to be an associate professor at 'SUPDI-Distance Private University in Zud' in Switzerland. It is not clear this is a genuine university. One of his online bio's claims he has a doctorate from 'UniToscana – Leonardo Da Vinci University in Zurich in Political Philosophy' on Aleksandr Dugin's 'political metaphysics.' He is further described as 'a Tuscan from a noble family, (who) has always been a thought rebel…(j)ournalist, publisher, musician, Taekwondo and Archery athlete, he also does professional consulting, analysis and holistic therapies.' A real Renaissance man, but it's not apparent what expertise he has on peace and elections in Myanmar. How did someone like this get to a Peace Forum in Naypyidaw, and who paid for him? Some of the guest speakers from Thailand, China and India have sound connections and credentials, but the SAC is obviously scraping the bottom of the barrel to find Westerners to attend their 'peace' events. The regime also trotted out its pathetic hired henchmen, Hla Maung Shwe, Zaw Oo and Aung Naing Oo, whose collective credibility was shredded years ago during the 2012-2015 peace process under former President Thein Sein. Chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Khin Yi, which is the SAC's designated party to contest the elections, is also a prominent SAC figure to watch. Other notable actors in the charade include former prominent political dissident Ko Ko Gyi, chair of the People's Party, which has registered to contest the elections, and a number of other political parties from over 50 that plan to run in the polls. Leaders of armed groups who signed the 2015 NCA always attend these events, like wooden props, with a total lack of legitimacy and no support from their ethnic communities, which have been dramatically transformed by four years of war. The Peace Forum was thus yet another military charade, a venue for insincere performances of peace talk to entertain the Myanmar military leadership as they wage a savage war against their own people. Most of the Western embassies were invited weeks prior, but chose to stay away. The SAC pulls off these squalid stunts with regularity, and only the most gormless of opportunists see any merit in them. Back in March, the 'Myanmar Narrative Think Tank' was launched in a lavish ceremony in Naypyidaw, also with many Russian and Asian guests. It, like the Peace Forum, was an entirely vacuous exercise to give some ersatz credibility to planned polls. But the SAC's elections will have no credibility, inside or outside the country, no matter how many gabfests it stages while waging war against a majority of the country's population and barring the party that overwhelmingly won the last two polls. David Scott Mathieson is an independent analyst working on conflict, humanitarian and human rights issues on Myanmar
