Malaysia's leader said on Friday that Myanmar's military rulers and a key opposition faction seem prepared to prolong their truce to facilitate additional seismic aid operations.
The Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim stated that the engagement discussions he conducted with Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing and the head of its ousted parallel administration were fruitful.
Neither opposing party has separately verified any prolongation of the initially unstable 20-day ceasefire announced on April 2nd.
What the leader of Malaysia stated
Anwar, who is presently the head of the regional group ASEAN, mentioned that the involved parties were ready to prolong the cessation of hostilities declared following the March 28 earthquake. This natural disaster resulted in over 3,600 fatalities.
He mentioned that the discussions were held between the chief of the military's State Administrative Council, Min Aung Hlaing, and U Mahn Win Khaing Than, who serves as the prime minister of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) that was ousted during the coup.
"A cessation of hostilities and no undue provocation must occur; otherwise, this entire humanitarian effort could falter," Anwar informed journalists gathered in Thailand’s main city, Bangkok.
The first interaction I had with both the SAC prime minister and the NUG was quite fruitful.
"Humanitarian work is our main focus. A halt to hostilities is essential. Additionally, ensuring the security of everyone involved in these aid operations must be guaranteed," Anwar stated further.
Anwar stated that the discussion during his meeting with Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok centered around Myanmar’s urgent humanitarian requirements after the powerful 7.7-magnitude quake hit. He further mentioned having pressed for an expanded period of tranquility.
Anwar stated that he emphasized the importance of stopping hostilities,' adding 'it’s crucial to facilitate humanitarian aid across the entire country of Myanmar, regardless of their location or political stance. He assured us of this commitment,
A Myanmar junta statement made a day earlier did not mention of Anwar's appeals for peace. It said the talks had focused on quake relief and repair.
The UN Human Rights Office says Myanmar's military has continued with some airstrikes, despite the truce.
Junta leader finds audience after isolation
Thursday's talks coincided with the junta's amnesty for nearly 4,900 prisoners, marking the Buddhist new year.
However, the NUG and several ethnic guerrilla groups fighting the military criticized the meeting in advance, warning that these contacts could serve to "legitimize" the dictatorship.
During talks with the NUG, which includes remnants of the ousted administration, Anwar said he made clear that ASEAN would keep engaging both the NUG and the junta — while humanitarian aid efforts would carry on.
It is the first time since April 2021 that the leader of the country that chairs ASEAN has met Min Aung Hlaing, who has been banned from the bloc's high-level meetings for years.
The junta leader has been to Bangkok twice since the earthquake, for the most recent meeting and an earlier regional summit attended by leaders such as India's Narendra Modi.
Myanmar's February 2021 military coup, which came after a temporary experiment with democracy, has left the country mired in deep political chaos, exacerbating internal armed conflicts that have dragged on for decades.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
Author: Richard Connor (along with AP, Reuters, AFP contributions)