Foreign ministers of several Southeast Asian nations on Friday issued their final communique, which criticized fellow member Myanmar for a lack of action in ending violence in the country. The language, however, was weaker than most members had hoped for.
Myanmar’s military government declared a state of emergency in February 2021, after a coup ousted a democratically elected government under Aung San Suu Kyi. In the months that followed, the military junta has been accused of thousands of extrajudicial killings.
Last week, Myanmar carried out its first official executions in decades, causing an outcry across the world. ASEAN’s current head, Cambodia — which is renowned for not interfering in what it deems the domestic affairs of other countries — even voiced concern.