Criticism over Myanmar ASEAN deal with military coup leader

Questions raised over the lack of commitment to freeing political prisoners and restoring democracy.

Human rights groups and people in Myanmar have criticised an agreement between Min Aung Hlaing, the general who seized power in a military coup nearly three months ago, and Southeast Asian leaders to end the violence-hit nation’s crisis, saying it fell short of restoring democracy and holding the army to account for killing hundreds of civilians. There were no immediate protests in Myanmar’s big cities a day after the armed forces’ chief flew to Jakarta to meet leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and agreed to a five-point plan that called for an immediate end to violence and for “all parties” to exercise restraint. “ASEAN’s statement is a slap on the face of the people who have been abused, killed and terrorised by the military,” said a Facebook user called Mawchi Tun on Sunday. “We do not need your help with that mindset and approach.”