KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Asean is not sending an observer to the Myanmar elections in December, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. confirmed last night.
The Philippine News Agency reported him as saying that the issue of deploying a monitoring team had been discussed carefully during high-level talks.
“I think what has happened is that Asean is leaving it to each country to decide on its own. Asean will not take a common position.
"Because in our discussions, everyone has a different idea. So, we will have to decide for the Philippines what it is that we think we should do. We will watch other countries to see what they should do,” Marcos said.
He was speaking to the press after concluding his participation in the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Malaysia.
Marcos added that he is optimistic the bloc's member states could still reach a consensus on what to do by December 28, when the election is scheduled.
However, he did not specify whether the Philippines is deliberating on sending its own observer or aligning with the bloc’s stance.
“It would be much preferable if Asean moves as one,” Marcos said.
The President noted that there are differences in opinion among Asean member states, “but the differences are not enormous.”
“I think that if we talk about it some more, we will find common ground as to what to do. What that is, I cannot predict,” he said.
Myanmar was plunged into turmoil when the military staged a coup and ousted the democratic government in February 2021.
During the 15th Asean-United Nations (UN) Summit on Oct 27, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “appalled by the deplorable situation” in Myanmar, as the military takeover had “piled calamity upon calamity” in the country.
He said the cycle of impunity must end as he reiterated his call for an immediate end to the violence.
Guterres stressed the need for “genuine commitment to inclusive dialogue” and “a credible path back to civilian rule — starting with the swift release of all those arbitrarily detained.”
Meanwhile, he expressed support for the Asean Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which calls for an immediate end to violence, dialogue among all parties, and humanitarian assistance by Asean, among others.
