Myanmar minister attends Asean defence meeting

Myanmar's military-appointed defence minister joined a meeting of his Southeast Asian counterparts yesterday, despite pressure from some countries in the regional bloc and pro-democracy groups to exclude the junta from such gatherings. 

General Mya Tun Oo is the most senior Myanmar official to attend a ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) since the junta was sidelined late last year over its failure to honour a peace plan agreed with Asean.

Divisions persist within the 10-nation bloc over how to deal with the military that seized power in Myanmar last year and has led a bloody crackdown against its opponents.

Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia have urged current chair Cambodia to exclude the junta until progress is made toward ending hostilities.

The Malaysian defence ministry said that even though yesterday's meeting involved the military government, "this does not mean Malaysia recognises the (junta) as the legitimate government of Myanmar".

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh said the Myanmar general's presence indicated a unified bloc.

Details of the ministers' discussion were not available but a joint statement shared with media showed all of them pledged support for efforts to "bring about a peaceful transition to normalcy in Myanmar" through a special envoy.

Democracy activists in Myanmar and elsewhere raised concerns that efforts to engage with the junta legitimise it.

All 10 Southeast Asian defence ministers are also due to meet their Chinese and Japanese counterparts virtually later on Wednesday, Tea Banh said.