Statement (7/ 2025)
16 July 2025
1. The National Unity Government welcomes the inclusion of several references to the situation in Myanmar in the Joint Communiqué issued at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held on 9 July 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’.
2. The National Unity Government acknowledges and appreciates ASEAN’s collective response and swift action, through the AHA Centre, in facilitating relief operations and ensuring timely humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar affected by the devastating earthquake on 28 March 2025. The National Unity Government also welcomes ASEAN’s decision to conduct a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus and to submit recommendations to the 47th ASEAN Summit, as well as the mandate given to explore new strategies to ensure continuity in the role of the ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar.
3. While the Joint Communiqué expresses deep concern over the escalating conflict and worsening humanitarian situation in Myanmar, and condemns continued acts of violence against civilians and public facilities while urging all parties to take concrete steps to immediately halt such violence, the National Unity Government remains deeply disappointed by ASEAN’s failure to explicitly denounce the military junta—responsible for grave and ongoing war crimes—or to adopt effective measures to hold it accountable.
4. Although ASEAN has repeatedly reaffirmed the Five-Point Consensus as its primary framework for addressing the political crisis in Myanmar, the military junta has continued to escalate its campaign of terror against the civilian population. On the very day the Joint Communiqué was issued, an airstrike was launched in the Sagaing Federal Unit, killing more than 30 innocent civilians, including children.
5. Under these circumstances, the military junta’s attempt to forcibly organize a sham election represents a clear violation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, particularly its core commitment to ending violence. Yet, ASEAN has failed to issue any warnings or take preventive measures regarding this fraudulent election. The National Unity Government views this omission with deep concern, as it risks indirectly shielding the military junta from accountability.
6. Since assuming the role of ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy on Myanmar in January 2025, H.E. Tan Sri Othman Hashim has actively engaged with ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, neighboring countries, international and regional stakeholders, civil society organizations, humanitarian actors, and think tanks. However, the National Unity Government views the Special Envoy’s limited success in exerting effective pressure on the military junta—particularly in securing access to Myanmar and meeting with the country’s unlawfully detained legitimate leaders—as indicative of the significant limitations in ASEAN’s capacity to effectively address the Myanmar crisis.
7. Therefore, the National Unity Government strongly urges ASEAN to fully acknowledge and empathize with the aspirations of the Myanmar people and the goals of the Spring Revolution in its efforts to genuinely and effectively resolve Myanmar’s political crisis. ASEAN must recognize that the military junta’s attempted coup in 2021 and its ensuing violence have severely undermined the vision of a cohesive, peaceful, and people-centred regional community. In this context, the National Unity Government calls on ASEAN to adopt and implement necessary strategies, including exerting pressure and taking concrete, proportionate measures against the military junta.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
National Unity Government
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