Myanmar\u2019s pro-democracy unity government, which includes members of parliament ousted by the military coup, has told Southeast Asia\u2019s regional bloc that it will not engage in talks until the junta releases all political prisoners.
\nThe 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been trying to find a path for Myanmar out of a bloody crisis triggered by the Feb. 1 coup and has called for an end to violence and talks between all sides.
\nBut the junta has already declined to accept proposals to resolve the crisis that emerged from an ASEAN summit last weekend that was attended by Myanmar\u2019s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, but no-one from the civilian side.
\nThe pro-democracy National Unity Government (NUG), formed this month by opponents of the military, said ASEAN should be engaging with it as the legitimate representative of the people.
\n\u201cBefore any constructive dialogue can take place, however, there must be an unconditional release of political prisoners including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,\u201d the NUG prime minister, Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, said in a statement.
\nWin Myint, Suu Kyi and others have been detained since the coup, which the military launched as Suu Kyi\u2019s government was preparing for a second term after sweeping a November election.
\nThe military said it had to seize power because its complaints of fraud in the election were not being addressed by an election commission that deemed the vote fair.
\nPro-democracy protests have taken place in cities and towns across the country since the coup. The military has cracked down with lethal force on the protesters, killing more than 750 people, an activist group says. Reuters is unable to confirm the casualties as the junta has clamped down on media freedoms and journalists are among the many people who have been detained.
\nAlarmed by the turmoil in one of its members, ASEAN held a meeting on Saturday in the Indonesian capital with the leader of the junta in a bid to press him to end the crisis.
\nASEAN did not invite a representative of Suu Kyi\u2019s ousted government.
\nASEAN leaders said after the meeting they had reached a \u201cfive-point consensus\u201d on steps to end violence and promote dialogue between the rival Myanmar sides.
\nThe junta later said it would give \u201ccareful consideration\u201d to ASEAN\u2019s suggestions, which included appointing an envoy to visit Myanmar, \u201cwhen the situation returns to stability\u201d and provided that ASEAN\u2019s recommendations facilitated the junta\u2019s own roadmap and served the country\u2019s interests.
\nActivists had earlier criticized the plan, saying it helped to legitimize the junta and fell far short of their demands.
\nIn particular, it did not call for the release of Suu Kyi, 75, and other political prisoners. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group says more than 3,400 people have been detained for opposing the coup.
\nThe NUG is largely made up of ousted members of parliament together with politicians representing ethnic minorities and pro-democracy protest leaders.
\nProtesters marched in support of the NUG in the second city of Mandalay on Wednesday, the Myanmar Now media outlet reported.
\nThe coup has also exacerbated old conflicts between the military and ethnic minority insurgents who have been battling for years for greater autonomy in frontier regions.
\nFighting has flared between the army and Karen insurgents in the east near the Thai border, and between the army and Kachin insurgents in the north, near the border with China.
\nClashes have also broken out in Chin State, which is on the border with India, between anti-coup activists and security forces.
\nKaren insurgents captured Myanmar army posts near the Thai border on Tuesday in some of the most intense clashes since the coup which included air strikes by the military.
\nThe military launched more air strikes in the area on Wednesday, villagers on the Thai side of the border said, but there was no immediate word on casualties.
\nThe Karen and other ethnic minority forces based in frontier regions have supported the largely urban-based pro-democracy opponents of the junta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Myanmar\u2019s pro-democracy unity government, which includes members of parliament ousted by the military coup, has told Southeast Asia\u2019s regional bloc that it will not engage in talks until the junta releases all political prisoners. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been trying to find a path for Myanmar out of a bloody […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n