ASEAN’s failure to act on its commitments has sustained Myanmar’s worsening crisis, with rights organisations and UN experts calling for stronger international action.
CIVICUS, a global civil society alliance, has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to halt its support of Myanmar’s military junta, citing complicity in enabling ongoing violence, repression, and human rights violations. Four years after the February 2021 coup, ASEAN is criticised for failing to deliver on its commitments to find a political solution.
Josef Benedict, Asia Pacific Researcher at CIVICUS, highlighted the regional body’s failure to confront the atrocities committed by the junta, saying, “ASEAN member states, especially Malaysia as the Chair, cannot continue to ignore the brutal repression against civilians, activists, and journalists. It must demand justice and accountability in Myanmar.”
Despite international sanctions imposed by some UN member states, ASEAN’s political will has been lacking. The five-point consensus agreement, brokered in Jakarta in April 2021, has yet to yield tangible progress. ASEAN is accused of providing legitimacy to the regime by attending junta-hosted conferences and supplying weapons and aviation fuel.
Since the coup, the CIVICUS Monitor has documented systematic assaults on civil society. Thousands of human rights defenders, activists, and peaceful protesters have been detained on fabricated charges, often facing long prison terms after unfair trials. Detained individuals frequently endure torture, with some dying in custody without accountability. Media freedom is severely restricted, with at least 35 journalists currently imprisoned.
In addition to physical violence, the junta has weaponised digital platforms to target activists. It has orchestrated online harassment campaigns, incited violence, and implemented digital restrictions that limit the flow of information. Meanwhile, aerial attacks have devastated civilian areas, with the Rohingya community facing ongoing abuses.
CIVICUS Asia Advocacy & Campaigns Officer Rajavelu Karunanithi emphasised the need for ASEAN to support Myanmar’s democratic aspirations by engaging with the National Unity Government and civil society: “ASEAN must end complicity with the junta. It should help dismantle the regime and hold it accountable for its atrocities.”
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, echoed these concerns. On 30 January 2025, marking the fourth anniversary of the coup, Andrews described the situation as a “nightmare” for Myanmar’s population. He noted that the junta’s incompetence and violence have caused widespread suffering, with over 20,000 political prisoners and millions of displaced civilians.
“The junta’s plans, including holding sham elections this year amid armed conflict and human rights abuses, are a path to ruin,” Andrews warned. He called for international rejection of these elections, labelling them fraudulent due to the repression of opposition leaders and journalists.
Despite the grim circumstances, Andrews praised the resilience of pro-democracy activists, human rights defenders, and civil society groups: “The resilience and courage of Myanmar’s people continue to amaze and inspire others around the world.” These groups have documented junta crimes, provided humanitarian aid, and worked to educate displaced children.
Andrews pointed to some success in curtailing the junta’s access to weapons, noting that targeted sanctions and arms trade restrictions, particularly by Singapore, have led to a one-third reduction in military purchases through formal banking channels as of March 2023.
He urged the international community to intensify its efforts, particularly by supporting accountability through mechanisms like the International Criminal Court (ICC). “Impunity has enabled a decades-long cycle of violence and oppression in Myanmar,” he said. “This chapter must end with junta leaders being prosecuted for their crimes.”
As the junta plans for elections in 2025, human rights organisations stress that ASEAN has a crucial role to play in shifting regional dynamics. By ceasing its complicity, pressuring the junta, and engaging with democratic forces, ASEAN could help steer Myanmar toward justice and democracy.
