Southeast Asian parliamentarians and civil society call for decisive ASEAN action on Myanmar crisis

Four years after the military coup in Myanmar, Southeast Asian parliamentarians and civil society organizations have called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take bolder and more inclusive action to address the country’s humanitarian and political crisis.

In an open letter addressed to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair for 2025, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and various civil society organizations urged ASEAN to prioritise democracy, human rights, and regional stability in its response to Myanmar’s ongoing crisis.

“For the past four years, the people of Myanmar have faced relentless atrocities—indiscriminate airstrikes that devastate communities, arbitrary arrests aimed at silencing dissent, mass displacement, and an economic collapse that has driven millions into hardship under the ruthless and illegitimate regime of Min Aung Hlaing,” said Mercy Chriesty Barends, Indonesian Member of Parliament and APHR Co-Chairperson.

“Under Malaysia’s Madani leadership, ASEAN must act now to restore civilian rule and end the human rights abuses.”

Key demands outlined in the letter

The letter called on ASEAN to implement six major recommendations to address the Myanmar crisis effectively:

1. Prioritising humanitarian aid – ASEAN must enhance efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance and ensure aid reaches affected communities without military interference.


2. Strengthening inclusive dialogue – ASEAN should broaden its peace dialogues to include ethnic minorities, civil society groups, and resistance forces in Myanmar, rather than engaging solely with the military regime.


3. Rejecting military-led elections – The letter commended Malaysia’s stance on prioritising peace over elections and urged ASEAN to reject any military-organized polls that do not meet internationally accepted democratic standards.


4. Ensuring policy continuity – ASEAN should establish a dedicated, permanent Myanmar-focused team within its Secretariat to maintain a consistent and sustainable approach to resolving the crisis.


5. Mobilising international support – ASEAN must lead regional and global efforts to prevent arms sales to Myanmar’s military junta and impose economic and diplomatic pressure to halt human rights violations.


6. Advancing gender and social equity – ASEAN’s response should be gender-sensitive and inclusive of Myanmar’s diverse ethnic communities. Women’s participation in peace negotiations should be actively promoted to ensure their voices shape the country’s future.

ASEAN’s credibility at stake

The open letter emphasised that ASEAN’s failure to act decisively on Myanmar would damage its credibility as a regional body committed to peace, security, and the rule of law.

The appeal aligns with Malaysia’s Madani governance vision, which emphasises sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion.

“The people of Myanmar deserve a future free from military oppression,” said Rangsiman Rome, APHR Board Member and Thai Member of Parliament.

“Malaysia’s leadership in 2025 presents an opportunity for ASEAN to uphold its commitment to justice and human dignity. There is no better time to demonstrate this than now.”

APHR and civil society groups urged ASEAN to seize this moment and adopt a proactive, assertive, and human rights-focused approach to resolving the Myanmar crisis.