Envoy aborts visit to Myanmar, straining ASEAN relations

Myanmar says a special envoy appointed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations canceled his visit after the government told him he would not be able to meet with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others

BANGKOK -- Myanmar's military-installed government said Thursday that a special envoy appointed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations abruptly canceled his visit this week after it told him he would not be able to meet with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others he had proposed.

The visit’s cancellation is likely to have fueled sentiment among some members of the 10-nation regional body, known as ASEAN, to punish Myanmar for hindering the envoy’s work. Malaysia had already proposed that Myanmar’s leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, not be allowed to attend an ASEAN summit later this month.

A hastily scheduled virtual meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers will consider the issue on Friday night, said two Southeast Asian diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to release such information.

Myanmar had agreed to allow this week's visit by the special envoy, Brunei Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, but he canceled after being informed by his hosts that he would not be able to meet all those he wanted to, said a statement issued by Myanmar’s foreign ministry.