Myanmar Shadow Government Seeks Invite To Asean Crisis Talks

Unrest continues across the country with protesters rallying in several cities showing support for the NUG while some stage motorbike rallies holding national flags

YANGON

Myanmar’s shadow government on Sunday urged Southeast Asian leaders to give it a seat at the table during crisis talks next week, and not to recognise the military regime that seized power in a February coup.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is expected to join a special Asean summit on Myanmar on Saturday in Jakarta -- his first official overseas trip since the putsch that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The army has moved to quell mass protests against its rule, killing at least 730 people, according to a local monitoring group.

Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation to the meeting of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations has drawn scorn from activists who have urged foreign leaders not to formally recognise the junta.

Moe Zaw Oo, deputy minister of foreign affairs for the parallel “National Unity Government (NUG)” -- formed on Friday by ousted lawmakers mostly from Suu Kyi’s party, as well as ethnic-minority politicians -- said Asean had not reached out to them.