ASEAN staff and Indonesia + Singapore embassy staff got attacked in Taunggyi Myanmar (9am local time).
ASEAN staff and Indonesia + Singapore embassy staff got attacked in Taunggyi Myanmar (9am local time).
Diplomatic vehicles carrying Indonesia's Myanmar Charge d'affaires, Singapore embassy staff, ASEAN humanitarian assistance officials reportedly attacked by People's Defence Force in Taunggyi. Important to note that the convoy has safely left Taunggyi city, everyone ok, safe. 42nd ASEAN Summit to be held on 9-11 May 2023 in Labuan Bajo (Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo Hotel) – just 3 days from now.
Myanmar Government officially denies that People’s Defence Force was behind this alleged attack of ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance diplomatic convoy.
NUG says the area isn’t operated by PDF / resistance forces, “PDF will not do this especially to diplomats. It’s unable to confirm who launched the attack yet, as of now.”
Incident happened around 9am Myanmar time (10am Jakarta today / 11am Singapore). Convoy safely left Taunggyi an hour later. PDF had targeted police escorts, not diplomatic vehicles & local ethnic armed groups helped negotiate the convoy's safety.
Myanmar’s SAC (State Administration Council) notify this letter mentioning "UN staffs, Diplomats, INGO staffs" to report traveller's name in any trip. So they must know the convoy's schedule and who's inside. PDF, to attack in such short notice is impossible. PDF and UGs are running under highly limited resources.
President Jokowi responds to the alleged attack of convoy carrying Indonesia, Singapore diplomats, ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance staff: "Stop using force, violence as it’s the people who'll be victims... I'm urging everyone to sit together & create space for dialogue."
Around 31 hours before the incident in Taunggyi, also by Jokowi (in exclusive interview by New Straits Times Malaysia - Metro TV Malaysia), said ASEAN's peace plan, the Five-Point Consensus, which calls for an end to violence and dialogue between all parties in Myanmar, remained the reference point for the solution for the crisis. Jokowi highlighted “ASEAN denied being proxy for any superpowers.”