Myanmar talks likely a positive step

Talks between the Cambodian and Myanmar foreign ministers on Tuesday may be a positive sign that could help ASEAN resolve the Myanmar crisis, though experts say more dialogue is needed.

The meeting in Phnom Penh was "a small and positive step" for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' engagement in the crisis and the implementation of the bloc's Five-Point Consensus, said Chheang Vannarith, president of the Asian Vision Institute think tank in Cambodia.

Noting Cambodia will chair the 10-nation regional grouping in 2022, Chheang Vannarith said the meeting will help pave the way for an ASEAN special envoy to visit Myanmar and meet with different political groups. The visit is a key point of the consensus reached in April at a meeting of ASEAN leaders in Jakarta, and would lay the groundwork for inclusive political dialogue among the parties to take place next year.

In this week's two-day visit, Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, according to the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Their discussion focused on bilateral cooperation and ASEAN issues.

U Wunna Maung Lwin also paid a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. They had "a candid discussion on how to support efforts in addressing the Myanmar crisis, as well as enhancing ASEAN centrality and solidarity", Cambodia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Hun Sen accepted an invitation to visit Myanmar on Jan 7-8. In doing so, he would become the first foreign leader to visit the country since February.

The talks came after Myanmar's detained President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were sentenced to two years on Monday for incitement and breaching COVID-19 restrictions, according to Xinhua News Agency. Suu Kyi is set to be put on trial over more charges against her. The military detained the two on Feb 1 and declared a yearlong state of emergency.

Constructive dialogue

Paruedee Nguitragool, associate professor in international affairs at Thailand's Chiang Mai University, said the Cambodian government is trying its best to forge a constructive dialogue with the Myanmar authorities.

"The invitation for (Hun Sen) to visit Myanmar in January is a positive sign," Paruedee said. "It shows that at least some level of trust between the two governments is there."

The academic said more discussions will follow.

"For ASEAN to move forward with the Five-Point Consensus, dialogue and engagement are very important," she said, adding that frank discussions are required to explore options and reach compromises.

Paruedee said she expects Hun Sen to be "very cautious".

Lina Alexandra, senior researcher at think tank the Centre of Strategic and International Studies in Indonesia, said that while it is hard to separate Hun Sen's position toward Myanmar from ASEAN's own, Cambodia, as the next chair, should consult with other member states when dealing with the Myanmar issue.

"Ideally, as the chair for next year, Cambodia should be the one who unites ASEAN members," she said.

Citing Myanmar's absence from the ASEAN summit in November, Alexandra said the bloc's message was clear that "Myanmar should resolve its internal problems first before coming back to ASEAN".

But Hun Sen said on Monday that as a member of the ASEAN family, Myanmar has the right to attend meetings and summits, according to The Phnom Penh Post.