Global civil society alliance CIVICUS has called on ASEAN to stop enabling the Myanmar junta’s repression and take concrete action to restore democracy and uphold human rights.
Four years after the coup, ASEAN has failed to deliver on its political commitments, instead legitimizing the military regime and supplying it with arms, enabling continued attacks on civilians and activists.
“ASEAN member states, especially Malaysia as the Chair, cannot continue to ignore the brutal repression against civilians, activists, and journalists. It must speak up against human rights violations, demand the release of political prisoners, and push for justice and accountability in Myanmar,” said Josef Benedict, Asia Pacific Researcher for CIVICUS.
The ASEAN-brokered five-point consensus, announced in April 2021, has seen no progress. While some UN states have imposed sanctions, ASEAN leaders have shown little political will to act.
Since the coup in February 2021, the CIVICUS Monitor has documented widespread civic space repression.
Thousands of activists and protesters have been detained on fabricated charges and sentenced to lengthy prison terms after unfair trials. Many detainees have suffered torture, with some dying in custody.
The junta has also launched digital crackdowns, weaponizing social media against activists and restricting information flow.
At least 35 journalists remain imprisoned. The military’s abuses extend to the Rohingya community, with aerial attacks on civilians and infrastructure carried out with impunity.
Civil society groups accuse ASEAN of sustaining the military regime by providing weapons and aviation fuel, attending junta-led conferences, and inviting the regime to ASEAN events. Meanwhile, the junta is planning “sham elections” in 2025.
“ASEAN must end complicity with the junta. It should engage with the National Unity Government and civil society to support the Myanmar people’s goals—dismantling the junta, restoring democracy, and holding the military accountable for its atrocities,” said Rajavelu Karunanithi, Asia Advocacy & Campaigns Officer for CIVICUS.
CIVICUS urged ASEAN to take decisive action to end repression, facilitate democratic transition, and ensure justice for victims of military abuses in Myanmar.
