ASEAN Urged to Give Junta Opponents a Seat at the Table in Myanmar Talks

Published 2026-10-30

The Five-Point Consensus (5PC) is an ASEAN plan agreed in 2021 to help resolve the political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. According to an article from the Fulcrum website, a new consensus for Myanmar should give opposition groups a place in the discussions. The article raises this issue because the crisis in Myanmar is still ongoing and affects the entire Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia as an ASEAN member.

The crisis in Myanmar began on 1 February 2021, when the military seized power from the civilian government. Afterwards, ASEAN leaders held a meeting in Jakarta on 24 April 2021. At that meeting, they agreed on five main points. Among them were an immediate end to violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, and the appointment of an ASEAN special envoy to act as a mediator. The plan also stated that humanitarian aid should be delivered through ASEAN.

However, the implementation of these five points has reportedly been slow. The Myanmar military junta has not fully implemented all the agreed points. Opposition groups, including groups formed after the coup, also do not have an official role in ASEAN discussions. The article argues that these groups should be involved in any new negotiations, because they control a large part of the territory and have influence in the ongoing conflict.

So far, there has been no official decision on whether the new plan will be approved. The crisis in Myanmar continues to affect the people, including many who have been forced to leave their homes. Discussions about Myanmar's future will remain a focus of ASEAN in the coming months.

Sources: fulcrum.sg

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