Day: January 11, 2023

ASEAN chair Indonesia will set up a special envoy’s office to deal with the post-coup crisis in Myanmar but not allow that country to hold the regional bloc hostage, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Wednesday.

As holder of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ chairmanship for 2023, Indonesia will work according to the five-point consensus, she said, referring to the bloc’s plan for putting Myanmar back on a democratic path, but that analysts have called a failure.

“An Office of Special Envoy will be formed and headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” Retno said in a statement.

“[As] chair and in accordance with the mandate of the 5PC [five-point consensus], Indonesia will make every effort to help Myanmar out of the political crisis. … Only through engagement with all stakeholders, can the 5PC mandate regarding facilitation for the creation of a national dialogue be carried out.”

Indonesia will take steps based on the fundamental principles and values of the ASEAN Charter, including adherence to the rule of law, good governance, as well as the principles of democracy and constitutional government, Retno said.

The Myanmar military, which toppled an elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, reneged on the consensus that it had “agreed to” in April that year. The agreement was meant to be a roadmap that would take Myanmar back to peace and democracy.

The consensus called for an end to violence, the provision of humanitarian assistance, the appointment of an ASEAN special envoy, all-party dialogue, and mediation by the envoy.

Many regional observers and analysts, as well as the previous foreign minister of Malaysia, have said it was time to junk the consensus and devise a new plan that was time-bound and included enforcement mechanisms.

However on Monday, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the five-point consensus was the best route to resolving the crisis in Myanmar.

“I and the President [Jokowi] agree that the ASEAN-approved process, especially the implementation of the 5PC, is the best place to seek a peaceful settlement in Myanmar,” Anwar said during a meeting with the Indonesian leader in Bogor.

Since the coup, the Burmese junta has carried out a widespread campaign of torture, arbitrary arrests and attacks that target civilians, the United Nations and human rights groups have said.

More than 2,700 people have been killed and More than 17,000 have been arrested in Myanmar, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Meanwhile, much is expected from Indonesia as ASEAN chair, especially in resolving the crisis in Myanmar, but analysts say that little will change unless Jakarta spearheads a hardline collective stance against the Burmese junta.

Indonesia is aware of the burden on the 10-member bloc, especially over the situation in Myanmar, and acknowledges that little progress has been made in implementing the five-point consensus.

“ASEAN is disappointed,” Retno said.

“Despite all the efforts of the chair and all ASEAN member countries, the implementation of the 5PC by the Myanmar military junta has not made significant progress.”

But Indonesia, which is ASEAN’s largest member, would not let that define the regional bloc, Retno noted.

“Indonesia’s chairmanship will also ensure that building the ASEAN community will remain a key focus,” she said.

“The issue of Myanmar will not be allowed to hold hostage the process of strengthening the ASEAN community development.”

A stable Indo-Pacific

Peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific will be another area of focus for Indonesia as this year’s ASEAN chair, Retno said.

In September, she signaled that ASEAN would not be a pawn in a “new Cold War,” referring to tensions between the United States and China, whose rivalry is playing out in the Southeast Asian region.

“Many countries have an Indo-Pacific concept. This is where a synergy is needed, so that the various concepts will not exacerbate the rivalry,” Retno said.

“Indonesia will continue to emphasize that the Indo-Pacific must be approached not only from a security aspect, but also from an inclusive economic development aspect.”

The centrality of ASEAN must be strengthened in order to be able to maintain peace, stability, prosperity in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, Retno said.

“For this reason, the implementation of AOIP will be a big step in implementing the priorities of the Indonesian chair,” Retno said, referring to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

“A peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region, respect for international law, and inclusive cooperation are the keys for ASEAN to become the epicentrum of growth.”

Radio Free Asia –Copyright © 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036

Police in Cambodia have summoned representatives from major humanitarian organizations for posting the now-banned “Blood Workers” music video on their social media accounts.

Last week, Cambodia’s culture ministry ordered police to prevent the spread of the music video, which recounts a deadly government crackdown on a workers’ protest nine years ago. The video by rapper Kea Sokun shows footage of the Jan. 3, 2014, protests in Phnom Penh during which police shot four people dead and wounded nearly 40 others.

Rapper Kea Sokun, who created the “Blood Workers” song, denied that the song incited people as alleged but said he was about his safety. “The ministry has claimed inciting content but it failed to pinpoint which parts,” he said.

On Tuesday, police summoned Moeun Tola, Executive Director of the Center for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights, or CENTRAL, and Vorn Pov, President of the Independent and Democracy of Information Economic Association, or IDEA, over their group’s social media posts.

Previously, police had also summoned Am Sam Ath of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, or LICADHO, for a meeting on Monday, and he already removed the group’s posting to avoid further legal action.

Moeun Tola said the summons gave him a chance to explain his group’s reasoning for posting the music video, saying he told police that his group posted the song to commemorate the anniversary and urged the authorities to investigate the violent crackdown. He added that CENTRAL did not intend to provoke social disorder as alleged by the Ministry of Culture.

‘It is sad’

Despite the explanation, police ordered Moeun Tola to remove the post to avoid any further legal action, and CENTRAL has taken it down since. Vorn Pov also said that his NGO agreed to remove the posting as demanded by the police.

“We are living in this situation. We don’t want any trouble so we decided to remove the posting from our Facebook page,” he said.

Despite removing the post, Am Sam Ath said LICADHO has continued to stand by the NGOs right to post the music video, saying there was no evidence it incited unrest or affected social security as authorities claim.

“It is sad,” Am Sam Ath said about the removal of the post.

RFA couldn’t reach Phnom Penh Municipality Police Spokesman San Sok Seiha for comment. But Rong Chhun, president of the independent Cambodian Confederation of Unions, criticized the police’s process, saying that it was a threat against NGOs and their rights in the country.

“The government shouldn’t be worried about the postings too much. NGOs have no choice but to remove the postings for safety and avoid any legal consequences. As a result, any future expression through songs will be restricted,” he said.

Lastly, police also summoned Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community President Teng Savoeun for a meeting on Jan. 11, but their post of the song seemed to already have been removed.

Rapper concerned about his safety

RFA doesn’t know Kea Sokun’s whereabouts at this time.

“For the past nine years they have been left with pain and sorrow and sadness by gestures full of blood,” Kea Sokun raps in the song, according to a translation by local independent media outlet VOD.

“There is no information and they do not know where they have drifted away,” he continues. “There is no one who knows, and they have been waiting for justice for the past nine years, waiting so long but there is no one held responsible.”

Last week, Cambodia’s Culture Minister Phoeurng Sackona sent a letter to Police Chief Neth Savoeun, and asked that he take steps to prevent the spread of “Blood Workers” on social media, citing its “inciting contents that can contribute to instability and social disorder.”

Phnom Penh Municipality Police Spokesman San Sok Seiha said NGOs should pay attentions to the song’s content before posting on their Facebook, but he did not clarify which sections were considered problematic by authorities.

“I can’t elaborate on the issue. I don’t give opinion on the issue. you can look at the ministry’s statement and video, so you can evaluate,” he said.

Radio Free Asia –Copyright © 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered an opposition party advisor to turn over his house to the government within a month, the latest wrinkle in a property dispute that dates back to the 1980s.

Kong Kaom, who was once Cambodia’s deputy foreign affairs minister, is the father of Kong Monika, a senior official in the main opposition Candlelight Party.

Since 1982, he has been living on property that Hun Sen claims is owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It is time for the ministry to take the land back,” Hun Sen wrote on his Facebook account Wednesday.

He said that although he has allowed Kong Koam to live on the property, the former deputy minister has since faked documents to try to establish ownership for himself.

A government sub decree in 1989 conferred ownership of the disputed property to him, Kong Koam told RFA’s Khmer Service on Wednesday.

“I didn’t secretly apply for the land title. I received the land titles in 1990 and 2015 for ownership of the house and land,” he said.

Kong Koam claims that Hun Sen is threatening him for his association with the Candlelight Party. The party secured around 19% of votes in last June’s nationwide local elections while Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party, or CPP, secured around 80% of the contested seats.

Kong Koam is a former member of the ruling party, but he changed his political affiliations in the 1990s, when he returned home after a stint as Cambodia’s ambassador to Vietnam.

He said that despite the threats, he will remain a supporter of the opposition.

“I love democracy,” he said. “I won’t support the ruling party [in exchange] for my house and clemency.”

Defamation suit

Meanwhile, the ruling party’s office in the southeastern province of Tboung Khmum filed a defamation suit against Kong Koam over comments he made during a recent speech to Candlelight Party members, where he mocked the CPP by alleging that it has origins in Vietnam.

According to the suit, the comments were an attempt by Kong Koam to incite chaos.

The CPP asked the court to prosecute Kong Koam and fine him U.S.$500,000 in compensation for damages.

Kong Koam maintains that his comments did not incite anyone.

“I want to raise awareness about my opponents. The CPP doesn’t want us to raise any issues that [negatively] affect them,” he said. “Hun Sen has reacted and asked [other parties] not to say anything that hurts the CPP.”

The lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the upcoming general elections, scheduled for late July, said Am Sam Ath of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights.

He urged the ruling party to forgive the comments, engage in dialogue with the opposition and avoid lawsuits “to have a good environment so the election will be recognized as free, fair and just.”

Radio Free Asia –Copyright © 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036