ASEAN calls Burma’s executions of four activists “highly destructive”

July 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has described this Tuesday as “highly destructive” for the progress made in the region the executions of four activists perpetrated by the Burmese military junta on Monday and has pointed out that this type of practice is “deeply disappointing”.

The organization, made up of a dozen countries including Burma, has condemned the executions, as well as the way they were carried out and the timing, just a week before the next ASEAN meeting.

“While the complexity of the crisis has been recognized and the extreme warlike climate can be felt in all parts of the country, ASEAN as a whole has called for the greatest of containment,” says the association, which is currently chaired by Cambodia, in a statement.

Thus, the text points out that “the implementation of these death sentences before the ASEAN ministerial meeting is reprehensible” and maintains that it shows a “great lack of will” on the part of Burma when it comes to addressing the dialogue between the junta and his political opponents.

The Malaysian authorities, for their part, have described the actions as a crime against humanity and have condemned the sentences. The country’s foreign minister, Saifudin Abdullah, stated during a press conference that the organization should prevent Burma from sending representatives.

The four executed men were among more than a hundred activists who have been sentenced to death in the country since the February 2021 coup.

On Monday, the US government urged Chinese authorities to increase pressure on Burma following the executions. State Department spokesman Ned Price said China could “influence” Burma “more than any other country.”

“That is what we ask the countries of the world, to do more. We will do more too,” he clarified. However, the Asian giant insists on not interfering in what it considers to be the internal affairs of other countries.

For Washington, it is necessary to end “business as it was being done” before the junta came to power and has asked countries to block the sale of military equipment to the Asian country.