Pathways to Democracy in Myanmar: A Call for Renewed International Action

        This is a summary of the Conference on Democratization in Myanmar, hosted by APHR at the Parliament of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on 31 October 2025. COBEM (Coalition of Burma Ethnic Malaysia) attended the meeting today.

Overview: The Conference on Democratization in Myanmar, organized by the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights at the Malaysian Parliament, brought together regional parliamentarians, diplomats, and civil society representatives to discuss the deteriorating political and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. It critically assessed the current regional strategies and called for immediate international action.

Critique of the ASEAN 5-Point Consensus

        All speakers, in particular Hon. Saifuddin Abdullah, the former Foreign Minister of Malaysia, called for a full review and substantial revision of the ASEAN 5-Point Consensus, adding that it has utterly failed in its key objectives of conflict reduction and democratization. The full-time appointment of an ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar and mechanisms that allow for clear, workable engagement frameworks were among the suggestions presented.

Engagement with Opposition and Civil Society:

       Some of the key recommendations were that ASEAN and its member states, particularly Malaysia, should broaden their engagement beyond the military junta. The speakers expressed the need for direct and continued dialogue with the National Unity Government, the National Unity Consultative Council, and Ethnic Armed Organizations. They emphasized the importance of genuinely listening to voices from the ground on how human rights and democratic objectives can be advanced.

Condemnation of the "Shame Election”:    

        The election of the military junta was globally condemned, considered illegitimate, and a way for further legitimization of its rule. According to Hon. Charles Santiago, Co-Chair of APHR, the international split has emerged, with China, India, and Russia, along with some ASEAN members such as Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, appearing to support or legitimize the poll. At the same time, European countries have decided not to send observers. This called for a united front against recognition of the election. Economic Levers and Sanctions: The need to strike at the junta's economic props was emphasized by the Malaysian MP Hon. Wong Chen. Limiting access to weapons, banking systems, and banning jet fuel were among the recommendations proposed to undermine the military's capabilities.

        The economic role of China in Myanmar, particularly in the jade, oil, and mineral industries, as well as its political support for the junta, raised concerns. The international community needed more engagement with China and Thailand, whose armies reportedly have a close relationship with the junta. The Rohingya Refugee Crisis and Humanitarian Aid. The plights of more than 700,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were brought into sharp focus by H.E. Mosammat Shahanara Monica, Bangladesh's Minister and Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, who called for greater international humanitarian support. Hon. Kannavee Suebsang, a Thai MP, updated the participants on the plight of 81,000 refugees at the Thai-Myanmar border and reported recent Thai government policy allowing them the right to work.

     The Malaysian Ministry of Education also presented a plan for educational support for refugees in Malaysia, reflecting the country's domestic commitment to addressing the crisis. The conference showed regional frustration with the lack of progress in Myanmar, and its call was powerful for a change in diplomatic and humanitarian approaches. What came across loudest at the conference was the apparent need for concerted international action, a condemnation of the junta's political actions, and a commitment to supporting the people of Myanmar in their quest to attain democracy and human rights.

#StandWithMyanmar #APHR #Democratization #MyanmarCrisis #ASEAN

Gallery of the Conference