CNI News

30 Oct 2022

Myanmar will not pull out of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries, Chairman Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan Front Party.

He added that the State Administration Council will continue to point out the violations of the charter by the ASEAN.

Dr Aye Maung told the CNI, “In my opinion, Myanmar will not pull out of the ASEAN. It will continue to point out the violations of the charter by the ASEAN. If it pulled out of the regional body, the upcoming government would blame it for its decision. So, it will do nothing except pointing out the violation of the charter by the ASEAN. It will leave the upcoming elected government to decide the matter.”

The Special AMM on 27^th October, 2022 in progress.

As the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Special AMM) was held without Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 27th October, the country will not be bound by the outcomes of the Special AMM, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the SAC.

Political analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI, “The SAC will not quit the ASEAN because it was a rare chance for it to have joined the regional body. U Than Shwe had to try very hard to join the ASEAN. So, it will not quit the ASEAN.”

As quitting the ASEAN will have negative impacts on the union peace process, Myanmar is unlikely to quit the ASEAN, Spokesperson Col Saw Kyaw Nyunt of the Peace Process Steering Team told the CNI.

SAC Chairman Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing meets ASEAN Chairman Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen

He said, “It is not geographically, culturally and politically pragmatic for Myanmar to leave the ASEAN under the current international situation. Leaving the ASEAN will have negative impacts on the union peace process. So, it is very unlikely.”

As the SAC did not implement the consensus effectively, the SAC chairman and the foreign minister were not invited to ASEAN meetings. Instead, the regional group has invited a non-political representative to its meetings.