NUG criticizes Naypyidaw response to ASEAN exclusion; APHR warns against normalizing relations with Myanmar

APHR warns against normalizing relations with Myanmar

The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), a network of current and former lawmakers focusing on how to improve human rights in countries across Southeast Asia, issued a statement on Tuesday warning against what it called a “lack of concrete action” on Burma by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on May 7-8.

APHR highlighted statements made by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who described the crisis in Burma since the 2021 military coup as a “thorny problem” without any clear solutions. It added that

that ASEAN’s principles of consensus and non-interference continue to hinder any concrete action in Burma, while Thailand and other member states risk “normalizing” ties with the regime by engaging with them.

There have been repeated calls by APHR for ASEAN to engage with Burma’s “democratic representatives,” including the National Unity Government (NUG), and to join international calls for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Philippines, the 2026 ASEAN Chair, urged Burma to allow its Special Envoy Ma. Theresa Lazaro ​to meet with Aung San Suu ‌Kyi.