PH hosts talks with Burmese delegates to discuss 5-point consensus
The Philippines, sitting as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), hosted on Thursday, Jan. 22, a discussion with several Burmese stakeholders to discuss plans for Myanmar, which has been under military rule for five years now.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, appointed by President Marcos as the special envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar, met with political and ethnic groups in Tagaytay as the latter participated in the first Myanmar Stakeholders' Meeting under the Philippines' ASEAN chairship.
The political condition in Myanmar, a member of ASEAN, remains unstable following the arrest of then-sitting Burmese leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, over alleged election fraud and the junta's takeover of the government in 2021.
During the discussions, Lazaro encouraged the delegates to share their "active, constructive, and meaningful" perspectives on the implementation of the ASEAN-led Five-Point Consensus.
The consensus is: immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, commencement of constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, the facilitation by a special envoy of the mediation of the dialogue process, provision by ASEAN of humanitarian assistance, and a visit by the special envoy and delegation to parties concerned in Myanmar.
Lazaro said they talked about advancing de-escalation of tension in Myanmar, facilitation of humanitarian assistance, addressing transnational crime, and fostering political dialogue among relevant stakeholders.
The Foreign Affairs chief also started the year on Jan. 6, flying to the Burmese capital of Naypyitaw, where she sat down for talks with senior leadership of the country's State Security and Peace Commission.
At that time, she said, the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, will continue to build on the efforts of previous Special Envoys of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar in advancing the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.