ASEAN: Myanmar incidents must not be linked with religious issues

Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), warned of linking the incidents taking place in the Arakan region, western Myanmar, with religious issues, "because that may lead to the escalation of the conflict between the parties." Pitsuwan said in a lecture organized by the Malaysian 'Global Movement of the Moderates' that "the conflict in western Myanmar is greater than to be a religious conflict," warning at the same time of the extension of this conflict, which threatens stability and security in the entire region. He expressed concerns over the situation in the volatile areas in Myanmar, explaining that "it is not just an issue where Muslims and Buddhists are fighting, but it also is an issue of restructuring the constitution and democracy, human rights and national reconciliation." Pitsuwan urged all ASEAN members to discuss the issue in order to reach a common strategy to ensure security in Myanmar and the region, saying "it would be surprising if the regional bloc remained silent at a time when many of the blocs and organizations are initiating movements. The association established its legitimacy through humanitarian assistance, especially the help provided to Myanmar during Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which has left many casualties and material damage, he added. He said that ASEAN can play a similar role in the Arakan issue by providing support and cooperation to the government of Myanmar. "Despite the fact that the government of Myanmar has rejected a proposal by ASEAN to directly provide help in the case of Arakan, since it is an internal issue and that the government can control it, regional unity is an absolute necessity to end this issue," he concluded.