Cambodia’s ASEAN Special Envoy meets with seven political parties in Myanmar, excluding all major parties and ethnic parties

• The ASEAN Special Envoy visit highlights the short-slightness of the Cambodia handling of ASEAN 5 Consensus as the Special Envoy fails to push the junta regime on its commitment
• The Special Envoy is so far able to meet with the political parties and organizations that are organized by the junta regime 
• It is not certain whether the Special Envoy will meet with National Unity Government and other important stakeholders 
• Civil Society and Organization urged the Special Envoy to meet with NUG and CRPH (Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw). 

Yangon (Chindwin): Mr Park Sokhoon, the ASEAN Special Envoy, meets seven political parties at Lotte Hotel in Yangon on Saturday without the participation of the National League for Democracy, while Union Solidary and Development Party (USDP), a pro-military party, widely discussed issues relating to National Unity Government and People Defense Force (PDF). 

The seven parties invited and attended to meet with the ASEAN Special Envoy are Arakan National Party, Mon Unity Party, Pa-O National Organization, Ta’ang National Party, Union Solidarity and Development Party, and Zomi Congress for Democracy. 

During the meeting, U Tan Htay, chair of the pro-military party – USDP, said the evidence of 1800 party members killed and losses caused by the National Unity Government (NUG) and People Defense Force (PDF) are submitted to Mr Park Sokhoon. 

Dr Aye Maung of the Arakan National Party suggested writing a new Constitution rather than reamending the Constitution at the meeting. 

There are no other suggestions or discussions by different political parties published. 

Served as Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Prak Sokhonn was selected as ASEAN Special Envoy and is currently on tour in Myanmar for a five-days visit after Cambodia chaired ASEAN leadership this year – 2022. 

So far, the ASEAN Special Envoy does not meet the majority of the political parties, including the National League for Democracy, who oppose the junta military’s coup de’t’a’t in February 2021.

The move is widely criticised as Mr Prak Sokhonn appears to include a meeting with other important stakeholders in this visit.

The junta regime told Mr Sokhonn before his visit to Myanmar that he will not be able to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who was recently transferred to a high-guarded detention cell in Naypyidaw, which attracts global condemnation of the junta regime’s actions.