Asean calls for end to Myanmar bloodshed but no solution in sight

VIENTIANE - South-east Asian leaders on Oct 9 pressed Myanmar's junta and its opponents to take "concrete action" to stop the bloodshed from years of civil war and sought to kick-start faltering diplomatic efforts to solve the crisis.

- AFP

The 10-member Asean has tried to no avail for three years to find a negotiated solution to the Myanmar crisis, which has left thousands dead and forced millions to flee their homes since the military seized power in February 2021.

The crisis dominated the first day of the Asean summit in Vientiane. Asean leaders held their first face-to-face talks with a senior Myanmar junta representative in more than three years on the first day.

The junta has suffered serious battlefield defeats over the past year during a renewed offensive by ethnic minority armed groups and pro-democracy "People's Defence Forces" that rose up to oppose its coup.

Asean leaders condemned attacks on civilians and "urged all parties involved to take concrete action to immediately halt indiscriminate violence", according to a draft summit chairman's statement seen by Agence France-Presse.