Indonesia tells Myanmar to let ‘qualified people’ take charge

An empty chair for the Myanmar delegation is pictured at a meeting of representatives of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly during the Asean Summit in Phnom Penh on Nov 10 last year. (Photo: Reuters)

DAVOS, Switzerland: An Indonesian senior minister has urged Myanmar’s military to consider stepping back and letting “qualified” leaders govern the country that is in an economic free-fall due to sanctions and worsening civil strife.

Myanmar’s junta should follow the example of Indonesia where the military has stepped back from controlling all aspects of government decades ago, said Luhut Panjaitan, coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment who is also a former general.