Under pressure, ASEAN says ‘deeply concerned’ at Myanmar violence

ASEAN leaders are under increasing pressure over the violence in Myanmar and its military leaders, who deposed a democratically elected government in 2021 [Bay Ismoyo/pool via AFP]

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has said it is “deeply concerned” about the violence in military-ruled Myanmar as Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for “unity” among its 10 members, which are divided over how to handle the crisis.

Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing has all but ignored a five-point plan to end the violence. The plan was agreed at a special ASEAN summit two years ago, and violence has only intensified since.