By Katrina Gracia Consebido
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, Nov. 11, called forth the need for a prompt implementation of the Five Point Consensus peace plan to tackle the worsening crisis in Myanmar.
In his speech at the 41st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit Retreat, Marcos asked his fellow ASEAN leaders to aid and protect the people of Myanmar.
“The Philippines thus reiterates the need for the speedy implementation of the Five Point Consensus, which Myanmar agreed to in the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting held in Jakarta in April 2021,” Marcos said.
The said plan was a call for a rapid end to violence and ramp up discussions between the military and their opposition.
“While the Philippines adheres to the ASEAN principles of non-interference and consensus, the protracted suffering of the people in Myanmar, in part due to the lack of progress in the implementation of the Five Point Consensus, also challenges the ASEAN-honored principles of democracy and the respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the ASEAN Charter,” he added.
The Chief Executive stressed that a direct engagement with the government and all stakeholders is the key to end violence and address the crisis in Myanmar.
“This would include direct engagement with the military administration, but also with all other stakeholders, including the political opposition within the ASEAN framework towards the full implementation of the Five Point Consensus,” he continued.
Marcos urged his fellow leaders to continue accepting constructive approaches in appealing to the stakeholders in Myanmar sharing the same ASEAN vision that is people-centered and people-oriented.
