An unknown armed group opened fire on a fleet of diplomats travelling in Myanmar on Monday. The convoy of several vehicles carrying diplomats was in the Hsi Hseng township in the western Shan State when the attack took place, according to the Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah.
Indonesia and Singapore condemned the attack in strong terms and once again made calls for peace in conflict-hit Myanmar.
The convoy comprised diplomats from Indonesia and Singapore, officials and representatives from the junta, and representatives of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management. No casualties were reported.
Indonesia president condemns attack on ASEAN officials delivering aid in Myanmar https://t.co/fR8ZcvxHSM pic.twitter.com/nhXQ4W8tpM
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2023
Attack Won’t Deter ASEAN Efforts for Peace
Indonesian President Joko Widodo condemned the attack. “Stop using force, stop violence because it’s the people who will be victims. This condition will not make anybody win,” he said. Widodo further added that the attack will not deter efforts by Indonesia and ASEAN to end the violence.
A Singaporean Foreign Ministry spokesperson reported that two staff members of the Singapore Embassy in Yangon were part of the attacked convoy. The official remarked, “Only constructive dialogue among all key stakeholders in Myanmar can facilitate a peaceful solution in the interests of the people of Myanmar.”
The MFA Spokesperson has responded to media queries on the recent incident involving the ASEAN humanitarian convoy in Shan State, Myanmar.
— MFAsg (@MFAsg) May 8, 2023
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Junta Distances Itself from Attack
The convoy was on its way to meet an ethnic armed organization, Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA), to discuss assistance provisions for civilians displaced internally.
The junta-aligned Pa-O National Organisation (PNO) accused the PNLA of attacking, while the Myanmar military has blamed the anti-junta forces for the attack.
ASEAN Efforts in Myanmar
ASEAN has led diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. While the country continues to be a part of the grouping, it has been barred from ASEAN’s top-level meetings.
The shooting has occurred just before the ASEAN Summit, which will last from 9 to 11 May, where efforts to kick-start a five-point plan agreed upon with Myanmar two years ago will be discussed.
The ASEAN has proposed a five-point consensus focusing on an immediate end to the violence in the country.
The violent conflict in Myanmar has been ongoing since 2021, when the military junta overthrew an elected government and launched a violent crackdown on dissent. The aggressive military attacks in the country and armed resistance have left thousands dead and several others displaced.