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JAKARTA – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spoken out about a Reuters report which states that Indonesia supports a new election process in Myanmar, as proposed by the military junta, with a proposal for sending monitors. This Reuters report triggered a demonstration in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said Indonesia’s position had not changed since the beginning of political developments in Myanmar. Indonesia, he explained, had issued a very clear statement, namely that Indonesia was concerned about the development of the political situation in Myanmar, calling for the use of principles contained in the ASEAN charter, including a commitment to law, democratic principles and constitutional governance.
Indonesia also, according to Faizasyah, underlined that the general election dispute could be resolved by the available legal mechanisms. Read also: Anti-coup protesters are angry, Indonesia: The wishes of the Myanmar people must be respected
He said Indonesia urged all parties in Myanmar to exercise restraint and put forward a dialogue approach in finding a way out of the various challenges and problems that exist so as not to worsen the situation.
“So, what we want to underline, after we issued a statement after the political developments in Myanmar, Indonesia’s national position did not change, there was no shift in position and this was confirmed after the Indonesian President met the Malaysian Prime Minister, who asked for a meeting of Foreign Ministers. ASEAN to discuss the situation in Myanmar, “he said on Tuesday (23/2/2021).
Faizasyah said, following up on the request, the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi traveled to ASEAN countries. The trip began with a visit to Brunei Darussalam, which currently holds the position of chairman of ASEAN, then continued to Singapore. He said the visit was carried out to capture the views of ASEAN countries on the situation in Myanmar. This visit, he explained, was also intended to consult on a special meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers.
“It is too early to mention an action plan, one of which states that it seems to support a new election process in Myanmar,” he said. Read also: Protested Indonesia, Demonstrating its Embassy in Myanmar
“That is not Indonesia’s position at all, because what we want to underline is how we seek a peaceful solution in Myanmar, which is an inclusive democratic political process involving all parties,” he continued.
The former Indonesian Ambassador to Canada later said that Retno would return to visit the two ASEAN countries in the near future to continue consultations on Myanmar.
“So I strongly deny the existence of an action plan, because the fact is now is an opportunity for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to equalize perceptions, gather views from other foreign ministers before holding a special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers,” he said.
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