ASEAN hopes to see demonstrable progress from Myanmar on the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) peace plan, such as the release of all political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on July 12.

“The most important point was that we all reaffirmed the central importance of the Five Point Consensus – it was and it remains valid. The next point is that all of us want to see demonstrable progress,” he told the Singapore media after an informal meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterpart in Bangkok.

It was the first in-person meeting between the ASEAN foreign ministers and Myanmar’s top diplomat since the 2021 coup in Myanmar.

Balakrishnan also mentioned that ASEAN foreign ministers would like to see a permanent end to violence in Myanmar and for ASEAN to be able to deliver humanitarian aid across the country even in places not controlled by the Myanmar regime, which are points mentioned in the peace plan.

In a statement on July 12, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Myanmar remains an integral part of ASEAN, and Singapore hopes to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar.

“Singapore is disappointed with the limited progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and stressed the importance of constructive dialogue amongst all of Myanmar’s key stakeholders to achieve a peaceful and durable resolution of the crisis.”

Balakrishnan also mentioned that ASEAN foreign ministers would like to see a permanent end to violence in Myanmar and for ASEAN to be able to deliver humanitarian aid across the country even in places not controlled by the Myanmar regime, which are points mentioned in the peace plan.

“Let’s hope that we will see some response and some progress in the next few months,” he added.

-The Strait Times