Naypido, March 21 (Prensa Latina) A special envoy from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began meetings here today with the aim of ending hostilities in Myanmar.
The visit of Cambodia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn has provoked the anger of opposition groups, who they say show respect for the military rulers and disregard for the will of the people.
Added to this is the apparent silence of the interim Asean President of Cambodia on the envoy’s programme, which a spokesman said was intended to avoid problems during the visit.
Myanmar’s state media showed footage of Prak’s meeting with the head of the ruling junta, Min Aung Hlaing, at the start of the threeday trip.
According to some independent media, the visitor will also meet with unspecified political parties, but talks with representatives of ethnic minority armies have been cancelled.
Among the scheduled meetings is a representative from the ousted National League for Democracy, the party of former arrested Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
On Monday, a group called the General Strike Coordination Unit said in a statement that the envoy ignored recommendations made by ASEAN foreign ministers at a meeting last month.
Photos on social media showed protesters in Kalay (northwest) resisting security forces by staging a small demonstration and holding signs saying the envoy was not welcome.
Prak’s visit is part of the socalled fivepoint plan agreed between Asean and the military last year to end the violence in the Asian nation that erupted in the coup 13 months ago.
mgt/LP