Backsliding by MyanmarJust weeks after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) revealed to the world its "breakthrough" on the Myanmar crisis at a special summit in Jakarta on April 24, the grouping is more or less back to square one. This week the Myanmar junta stunned its Asean friends when it made a U-turn on an agreement reached during the April 24 summit. It said a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar which it earlier backed would now have to be put off "until stability is established". For a start, the group must press harder for a more acceptable gesture from the Myanmar junta; backsliding is a no-no. The bloc needs to remind its wayward Asean friend that times have changed.

Source: Bangkok Post May 13, 2021 23:26 UTC