Topic: 2025 – Situation in Myanmar
Country: Indonesia
Delegate Name: Ava Gailitis
Country: Indonesia
Delegate: Ava Gailitis
School: Williamston High School
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: The Situation in Myanmar
The situation in Myanmar is one with a long history. After decades of authoritarian rule, Myanmar held its first open party elections in 1990. When the military party was defeated, however, they denied the election results and overthrew the National League for Democracy (NLD). In 2008, the military regime implemented a new constitution that once again attempted to initiate a government led by the people. In the 2020 elections, however, the military party lost even more seats as the NLD expanded its majority. The military staged a coup, leading to a civil war that still plagues Myanmar today. The military party, known as the junta, is fighting the organized NLD, along with various ethnic groups from around Myanmar. Myanmar has many different ethnic groups, and these groups have experienced much discrimination in the past. They view a lack of democracy as the root of their struggles as a people. As the war has raged on, it has become a more bloody and violent conflict and has also led to a worsening humanitarian crisis.
In regard to this issue, Indonesia has held a major role. As a former chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia has helped to draft the five-point plan, involving peace talks, dialogue, and a ceasefire, as a solution to the conflict. Indonesia also utilized the strategy of “quiet diplomacy,” involving actions such as economic sanctions, and has provided aid to areas that need it. The steps that Indonesia has taken to solve this issue have been limited by ASEAN’s non-intervention clause, forbidding any one country from meddling in the internal affairs of another. This places Indonesia in the position of needing to resolve this issue in Myanmar without directly disobeying ASEAN’s charter.
In the future, Indonesia would like to see more direct solutions to the problem, beginning with a ceasefire and a temporary end to violence. To weaken the military, embargoes on weapons and economic sanctions on the oil industry would be helpful. Concerning Myanmar’s various ethnic groups, Indonesia believes that the best course of action would be to recognize the human rights violations that have been committed against these groups and establish a democracy or council that gives every group a say. In any actions that are taken, it is important to make sure that all or most countries are on board, as this will help measures to be more effective. If only two or three countries decide not to impose a sanction on oil, for example, that could be enough to keep one side from coming to the negotiating table. Indonesia is looking to ally with fellow ASEAN members, and those from the European Union to solve this issue.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-presses-myanmar-peace-commitments-asean-ministers-meet-2024-07-25/.
https://theconversation.com/myanmar-crisis-highlights-limits-of-indonesias-quiet-diplomacy-as-it-sets-sights-on-becoming-a-great-regional-power-209291#:~:text=In%20April%202021%2C%20a%20few,the%20internal%20crisis%20in%20Myanmar
