The United States (US) has accused Myanmar’s caretaker government of buying time, after its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, extended the deadline for fresh elections to August 2023.
On Monday, a senior US official said the military junta’s announcement is “a call for ASEAN to step up its effort because it’s clear that the Burmese junta is just stalling for time and wants to keep prolonging the calendar to its advantage.” The official added, “All the more reason why ASEAN has to engage and live up and uphold the terms of the five-point consensus that Myanmar also signed up to.”
Six months after seizing power from the elected government, the junta on Sunday announced the formation of a caretaker government, with its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, as the Prime Minister (PM). Hlaing also promised to hold a fresh election by August 2023 and cooperate with the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) in finding a peaceful solution to the political turmoil that has engulfed the country since the February 1 coup.
The condemnation from Washington comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken participates in the five-day virtual talks with ASEAN to encourage the appointment of an envoy to mediate discussions with Myanmar. The talks, which will begin next Monday, also aim to strengthen the US influence in the region and counter China’s assertiveness. The Straits Times quoted two US State Department officials who told reporters during a briefing that Blinken is expected to announce several measures to support ASEAN’s fight against COVID-19 and its economic recovery, including expansion of programmes and partnerships with the US.
In April, ASEAN leaders met during a special summit in Jakarta to discuss the fate of the member country, Myanmar. Although Hlaing was invited to the negotiating table, ASEAN did not extend the invitation to the National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar’s shadow government formed by civilian lawmakers.
During the summit, the leaders agreed on a five-point consensus that included selecting an envoy to mediate between ASEAN and the junta, immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, and early general elections so that the country could return to the path of democracy peacefully. Hlaing agreed to the consensus but later backtracked on his commitment, saying that the country will only accept an ASEAN envoy until it could “establish stability.”
Concerning this, Indonesian Foreign Minister (FM) Retno Marsudi on Monday urged Myanmar to approve a special ASEAN envoy to mediate Myanmar’s political conflict. However, Marsudi did not clarify who the envoy is or if one had been appointed yet.
It remains to be seen if the junta leader will stick to his pledge this time around.