Myanmar’s defense minister has been welcomed to an annual meeting of his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations despite being sanctioned by the United States, Britain and other countries for abuses committed by his militaryPHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Myanmar’s defense minister, under sanctions from the United States, Britain and other countries for abuses committed by his country’s military, was welcomed Wednesday to an annual meeting with his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Gen. Mya Tun Oo wore his military uniform as he attended the ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. “General Mya Tun Oo plays a leading role in the management of the military, which is responsible for committing ongoing atrocity crimes with total impunity,” it said. Malaysia's defense ministry called the meeting useful, but said in a statement that the attendance of its defense minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, does not mean Malaysia recognizes Myanmar's ruling military council as the country's valid government. It said it has always stressed that Myanmar's military government must immediately implement ASEAN's five-point consensus.

Source: ABC News June 22, 2022 17:51 UTC