THE Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) reminds Asean leaders, ahead of the 49th Asean Summit in Manila next week, that there must be no break in the bloc’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and the Five-Point Consensus.
Min Aung Hlaing and the Myanmar junta must not be brought back into the Asean fold.
APHR has told the Philippine Department of Foreign Afairs (DFA) that the Five-Point Consensus is beginning to look like a failed project. More than 100,000 people have been killed, directly or indirectly, under Min Aung Hlaing’s watch, and the violence has not stopped. The people of Myanmar have little faith left that Asean will deliver democracy or protect their human rights. APHR stresses that all violence must stop, and call on Asean to measure the Five-Point Consensus against concrete outcomes and to report publicly on its progress.
APHR also raised its alarm over Malaysia breaking ranks by receiving Min Aung Hlaing as President of Myanmar, and over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s public pledge to work toward bringing Myanmar back into Asean at the level of heads of government. Asean made a promise to the people of Myanmar in 2021, and five years on they are still burying their dead. When Malaysia breaks ranks and welcomes Min Aung Hlaing as President, the generals learn that they only have to wait Asean out.
APHR has urged the Philippines, as Asean Chair, to advise Brunei and Indonesia not to extend any invitation to Min Aung Hlaing, and to ensure that Asean does not cave in to pressure from China, Russia, or Thailand to bring the junta back into the fold.
Next week, Asean should uphold democracy and human rights, not hand Min Aung Hlaing the legitimacy he could not earn from his own people.
APHR further urges that Asean use next week’s Summit to engage with Myanmar’s
democratic forces, who are more cohesive today than at any point since the coup. APHR reiterates that it does not recognise the junta’s sham elections or the parliament that emerged from them.
Philippine Undersecretary for Policy Leo M. Herrera-Lim informed the delegation that no official invitation has been extended to Min Aung Hlaing, and that no head of government or minister from Myanmar will take part in the Summit. APHR welcomes this and urges the Chair to state it publicly.
APHR has handed over a letter signed by parliamentarians from across Southeast Asia, addressed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Secretary of Foreign Afairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.
The letter calls on the Asean Chair to:
1. Publicly confirm that Min Aung Hlaing and other senior junta representatives will not be Invited or welcomed at the Summit or in the Philippines;
2. Strengthen implementation of the Five-Point Consensus through clear, time-bound
benchmarks;
3. Deepen engagement with Myanmar’s democratic actors; and
4. Work with fellow Member States to uphold Asean’s collective position. The DFA agreed to formally convey the letter to the Special Envoy and President Marcos.
Asean’s credibility rests on whether it stands with the people of Myanmar, not on how quickly it welcomes back the general who overthrew their government. – November 13, 2026
Charles Santiago is Co-Chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights