After Embassy Protest, Indonesia Denies Backing Myanmar Regime’s Election Plan

[Indos]

After Embassy Protest, Indonesia Denies Backing Myanmar Regime’s Election Plan​

By San Yamin Aung 23 February 2021


Disenfranchised Myanmar voters flocked to the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon on Tuesday to protest Jakarta’s reported push for ASEAN member states to agree to a rerun of the election by the Myanmar junta, which overthrew the country’s elected civilian government. The report was later denied by Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry.


The protesters denounced the reported plan by the giant of Southeast Asia as legitimizing the junta and ignoring their electoral wishes.


News agency Reuters reported on Monday that Indonesia is pushing its Southeast Asian neighbors to agree on an action plan to ensure that the military regime keeps its promise to hold new elections and hand over power


Since the military staged a coup on Feb. 1 after rejecting the November election as “flawed”, anti-regime protesters have demanded the release of the country’s detained leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and that the outcome of the election—in which a clear majority of Myanmar voters backed her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD)—be respected.


They rejected the regime’s promise that it would hold a new election at the end of its declared one-year state of emergency and hand over power to the winner.

Myanmar people stage a protest in front of the Indonesian Embassy on Feb. 23. / The Irrawaddy

Upset by the report, protesters gathered near the Indonesian Embassy the following morning, shouting “We don’t need another election!” “Respect our votes!” and “We want our government back!”


Netizens have also slammed the proposal as “ridiculous” and “totally unacceptable”, saying they already have an elected government and calling for it to be restored. Among them were elected members of the country’s ousted Parliament who are currently in hiding fearing arrest by the military.


Since the Reuters report went viral, an online campaign has been in full swing, including a popular post on Facebook telling ASEAN: “No Re-Election, We Want Our Government Back”.

After Embassy Protest, Indonesia Denies Backing Myanmar Regime’s Election Plan

Protesters accused Jakarta of attempting to legitimize the military regime; Indonesia later denied a Reuters report that it wants ASEAN to back a new election in Myanmar.

www.irrawaddy.com

 

[Indos]

Indonesia denies plan to support new elections in Myanmar

 

[Indos]

Myanmar situation has grave consequences for region: Indonesia's ex-foreign minister

 

[Indos]

@MINN @Aung Zaya Look like your mainstream media is supporting the democracy movement and the military regime seems let the media to speak freely despite they are now already taking charge the power.

 

[Indos]

Showing three middle fingers in the face of Army combat units

 

[Whizzack]

We really shouldn't get involved in this mess.. let them sort it out by themselves.. I mean we didn't do anything either during the Thai coup and they all seem to be just fine.. no need for us to act as a democracy champion or such..

 

[Indos]

We really shouldn't get involved in this mess.. let them sort it out by themselves.. I mean we didn't do anything either during the Thai coup and they all seem to be just fine.. no need for us to act as a democracy champion or such..

Thai coup is different, in Thailand the civil society is divided and doesnt respect the democratic result which then causes massive disruption in Thailand economy. Do you still remember red and yellow shirt movement in Thailand politics ??? Thus many believe that the military coup in Thailand is necessary to bring law and order there.

While Myanmar situation is different, their civil society is much more united and look like will be able to practice democracy in more responsible manner.

 

[Song Hong]

US is using Myanmese running dog to tell Indon that Indon should be doing something against the Mynamese army.

Suddenly protesters holding English signboard.

While most of the time, they hold Myanmese.

Myanmar situation has grave consequences for region: Indonesia's ex-foreign minister

 

[Indos]

Protests in Myanmar amid flurry of Southeast Asian diplomacy

 

[Indos]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1364411203842236421

 

[Indos]

The reality here is that Myanmar military has already taken the power, and this is why Indonesian foreign minister meet with the military ruler appointed foreign minister in Thailand. This is a political reality that should be accepted and military rule is not going to let go their power just like that, there should be some kind of pressure and save face in the same time to solve this matter. Other power like US, Japan, and European countries also need to give more economic sanctions to make the junta agree to let go their power.

 

[Indos]

MYANMAR COUP

Indonesia and Myanmar foreign ministers meet in Bangkok
Jakarta steps up push for ASEAN-led solution to Myanmar crisis
​

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with Burmese and Thai counterparts in Bangkok on Wednesday © Reuters

ERWIDA MAULIA and KOYA JIBIKI, Nikkei staff writersFebruary 24, 2021 19:35 JST
Updated on February 24, 2021 23:26 JST



JAKARTA -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met her Myanmar counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin in Bangkok on Wednesday, as Jakarta steps up its push for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations-led resolution of the crisis in Myanmar.

Marsudi traveled to the Thai capital after canceling a planned trip to the Burmese capital of Naypyitaw.

Indonesia faces the difficult task of uniting the 10-nation ASEAN bloc behind its efforts, starting with holding a ministerial meeting on the crisis.

"Thailand has conveyed its agreement, and so far ASEAN countries have expressed their commitment to support a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers," Marsudi told reporters.

Marsudi's meeting with Wunna Maung Lwin was held at the Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base, north of Bangkok. She also met Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, who held an informal meeting with Myanmar's military appointed envoy along with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

A trilateral meeting of Don, Marsudi, and Wunna Maung Lwin was also convened at the airport, according to a government source. Prayuth's involvement in the trilateral meeting could not be confirmed.

After the meeting, Marsudi told reporters she had stressed the need to avoid bloodshed in Myanmar during her meeting with Wunna Maung Lwin, as well as the importance of an "inclusive democratic transition process" involving reconciliatory and trust-building dialogues between conflicting parties in Myanmar.

She also asked the Myanmar authorities to allow humanitarian access and visits to the detainees. The minister said Indonesia will continue to communicate with all sides in Myanmar.

"We need to keep communicating with all parties so that messages can be conveyed, contributions can be offered, and the situation will not worsen and resolution can be done," the foreign minister told a new conference Wednesday evening. "The safety and wellbeing of the people in Myanmar must be the top priority. Their wishes must be heard."

Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. (Source photos by Tatmadaw True Information Team Facebook page/AP and Reuters)

Reuters had reported on Tuesday night that Marsudi would be the first foreign envoy to visit Myanmar since the Feb. 1 coup, citing a leaked document from the transportation ministry in Jakarta. But an Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman said Wednesday there will be no Myanmar visit for the time being.

On Wednesday morning, Marusdi tweeted that she has been holding calls with counterparts in the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Laos "on developments in #ASEAN."

Last week, she went to Brunei to meet the king -- Brunei is the ASEAN chair this year -- and to Singapore for discussions with the city-state's foreign minister.

Marsudi said the king supports a proposal for a special ASEAN meeting to discuss the Myanmar situation. Singapore is also positive toward the plan, with its foreign ministry saying the summit should be held as soon as possible.

Marsudi's trips follow talks between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yasin in Jakarta on Feb. 5, where they agreed to call a special Myanmar meeting. The foreign minister also has held calls with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Japan, India and China.

A Reuters report on Monday said Indonesia was devising a plan to hold the Burmese military junta to its promise of new elections, prompting a rally by hundreds of people outside the Indonesian embassy in Yangon, the economic capital of Myanmar. Protesters were angered by the report, saying they do not want another election and that their votes cast in November should be respected. The foreign ministry in Jakarta on Tuesday denied the existence of such a plan.

Indonesia and Myanmar foreign ministers meet in Bangkok

Jakarta steps up push for ASEAN-led solution to Myanmar crisis

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