ASEAN Urges Myanmar Junta to Prioritize Peace Over Elections

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has taken a firm stance against the upcoming elections planned by Myanmar's ruling military junta, stating that such elections are not a priority at this time. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan indicated that the focus should be on the peace commitments outlined in the "five-point consensus" agreed upon by the junta in 2021 following the ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi's government.

As violence escalates in Myanmar amid a civil war, critics question the junta's intention behind holding elections, perceiving it as a strategy to maintain military control through surrogate parties. The peace plan has not seen effective engagement, as the military views its opponents as terrorists and has largely disregarded dialogue.

During a recent ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, Mohamad reiterated that conducting elections without the inclusion of all political factions would be meaningless and could exacerbate existing problems. He emphasized the need for all parties to come together and cease violence before any electoral process could be considered valid. Since 2022, ASEAN has denied Myanmar's generals participation in crucial meetings, delegating representation to officials from the foreign ministry instead.