Can ASEAN help end the crisis in Myanmar?

The leader of Myanmar’s military government has accepted a proposal to stop the violence against civilians.

It came after Southeast Asian leaders met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during emergency talks in Jakarta, with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin describing it as “a success that went beyond expectations”.

The meeting held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was the first coordinated international effort to ease the crisis in Myanmar.

Hundreds of unarmed protesters have been killed by security forces since the army seized power from the democratically elected government on February 1.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Min Aung Hlaing did not oppose having an ASEAN delegation visit Myanmar, while members on the bloc agreed on a proposal to defuse the conflict.

It includes starting a dialogue, allowing aid into the country, releasing political prisoners and appointing a special ASEAN envoy to Myanmar.

So, could this be the beginning of the end for the post-coup crisis?

Presenter: Peter Dobbie

Guests:

Amitav Acharya – Specialist on Southeast Asia and ASEAN and distinguished professor at the School of International Service at the American University, Washington, DC

Phil Robertson – Deputy director, Human Rights Watch’s Asia division

Evan Laksmana – Researcher at Indonesia’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies