Indonesia Stresses Full Implementation of ASEAN Five-Point Consensus in Myanmar

Jakarta - Indonesia has stressed the importance of the full implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) by Myanmar and the need to objectively assess developments on the ground to determine the next steps, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We support the initiative to establish a special ASEAN envoy, with the note that the initiative also receives support from Myanmar,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.

According to Nabyl, such support is considered a crucial factor to ensure that the implementation of the mandate and the objectives to be achieved in Myanmar can proceed optimally.

Regarding the issue of Rohingya refugees, Nabyl stated that Indonesia is not a destination country but rather a transit country for refugees. He noted that Indonesia continues to play a role in line with the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, even though Indonesia is not a party to either instrument.

The government continues to coordinate with UNHCR and IOM in handling Rohingya refugees. This cooperation is carried out to ensure the handling process can take place quickly, precisely, and as effectively as possible.

“We certainly coordinate with UNHCR and IOM so they can carry out their roles, so that the handling can be as good and as fast as possible,” said Nabyl.

On 19 June, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, stated that Bangladesh is once again calling for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar as soon as possible. Chowdhury noted that nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees over almost a decade have placed significant social, economic, environmental, and security burdens on Bangladesh.

The Permanent Representative urged the international community and key regional actors to intensify diplomatic efforts and engagement to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar as soon as possible.

Myanmar has been engulfed in a political and security crisis since the military seized power in February 2021. ASEAN has since made the Five-Point Consensus the main reference in encouraging a peaceful resolution to the crisis, although its implementation continues to face various challenges.