ASEAN discuss humanitarian assistance for Myanmar

(6 May 2022) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Phnom Penh – 6 May 2022 1. Wide of Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting 2. Wide of meeting 3. Delegates, with Myanmar's military-appointed Minister for International Cooperation Ko Ko Hlaing in centre, taking notes 4. Reverse of Ko Ko Hlaing 5. Delegates during meeting 6. Screen showing delegate joining meeting remotely 7. Wide of Ko Ko Hlaing speaking 8. Various of meeting STORYLINE: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations convened a meeting Friday in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in a fresh effort to organize humanitarian assistance for strife-torn Myanmar. Organizers said the hybrid meeting, which included participation by video, was attended by high-level representatives from Myanmar and the other nine member states of ASEAN, its external partners, United Nations specialized agencies, and other relevant international organizations. The effort is part of an attempt to revive a five-point consensus on Myanmar reached in April last year by ASEAN. It acted in response to the violent chaos that swept Myanmar after the military in February 2021 seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and used lethal force to quash opposition to its takeover. The consensus calls for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties. Myanmar agreed to the consensus but then made scant effort to implement it. Its stonewalling led fellow ASEAN members to ostracize Myanmar by blocking its leaders since last October from attending major meetings of the regional grouping. At the same time, armed resistance to military rule has increased to the extent that some U.N. experts say the country is now in a state of civil war. Myanmar's military has launched large-scale operations, including air strikes in several areas of the country, generating large numbers of displaced people. In an effort to eliminate havens for any armed opponents, the government's tactics include burning down entire villages and restricting access to essential supplies such as food. Even if access to those in need was eased, a relief effort faces funding challenges. Myanmar is one of the region's poorest countries, and its economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic and the political upheaval, making foreign assistance an imperative. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: [email protected] (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...