UN chief advocates better use of groundwater

Myanmar executive board rejects meeting of ASEAN envoy with Suu Kyi

Upon returning from a threeday official trip to Myanmar, Prak told reporters he personally asked to organize the meeting, but junta chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said it was impossible due to his ongoing process.

He stated that he will consider requests in the future [para visitar] not only Aung San Suu Kyi, but also other people, said Cambodia’s Deputy Foreign Minister.

Suu Kyi was arrested by the military after the February 1, 2021 coup and is in prison, where she faces a range of charges.

Prak was scheduled to meet with Su Su Lwin, wife of former President Htin Kyaw and a member of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD), but Lwin canceled the talks due to ill health.

Later, the NLD Central Working Committee said that only Aung San Suu Kyi could speak on her behalf.

Cambodia’s foreign ministry tried to portray the visit as a success in a statement released on Wednesday, saying it “serves to strengthen regional stability as well as ASEAN’s credibility, unity and centrality”.

However, Prak admitted to reporters that the board has failed to deliver on other promises made over the past year, including an end to violence, greater access for aid groups and multiparty talks.

He also hinted that the nation’s various leaders are “more committed to confrontation than negotiation.”

After hearing all sides, none are ready to start a dialogue for a ceasefire, he said.

The envoy added that executive board officials do not receive invitations to ASEAN meetings unless consensus is reached.

The junta claims its coup was justified because the NLD used voter fraud to orchestrate a landslide electoral victory, but has yet to provide evidence to support its allegations.

Since then, security forces have killed at least 1,700 people and arrested more than 9,870 in the nearly 14 months, most of them during peaceful demonstrations.

jcm/lp