The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) urgently needs to address Myanmar’s “dire” human rights and humanitarian crises, which are being compounded by a COVID-19 health emergency and recent flooding, rights groups have said, warning the regional bloc to avoid giving legitimacy to the country’s military.
“Little progress has been made” by ASEAN since it reached an agreement with Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing in April that called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”, the appointment of a mediator to initiate talks and the provision of humanitarian assistance through ASEAN’s humanitarian coordination office, FORUM-ASIA and Progressive Voice said on Wednesday in a joint statement.
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JAKARTA The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s recently-appointed special envoy to Myanmar will have “full access to all parties” in the country and will report to a foreign ministers meeting in September, Indonesia said on Wednesday.
Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, a foreign ministry official, also told a news conference that the recently issued communique should not be seen as an acknowledgment of the Myanmar junta.
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ASEAN has appointed Brunei’s second minister for foreign affairs, Erywan Yusof, as special envoy to Myanmar. (Reporting by Gayatri Suroyo and Stanley Widianto; Editing by James Pearson)
Weekly Operational Update on COVID-19 (As of 1 August 2021)
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Supporting COVID-19 emergency preparedness and response in Thailand
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, the National Vaccine Institute, the European Union (EU), WHO Thailand and the World Vision Foundation of Thailand launched a programme on 23 July to support the COVID-19 response of Thailand and strengthen preparedness for future pandemics.
The EU is providing €1.9 million to Thailand, as part of the overall €20 million for “The EU Southeast Asia Health Pandemic Response and Preparedness Programme in Thailand”. The initiative includes eight other member countries from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat. COVID-19 priorities will focus on multi-source surveillance and testing strategies, subnational analysis and risk assessment, risk communication and community engagement, support to the national COVID-19 Immunization Programmes and strengthening essential heal
Reuters
Published: 04 Aug 2021 10:19 AM BdST
Updated: 04 Aug 2021 10:19 AM BdST US Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens as Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi talks to members of the media after a bilateral meeting at the Department of State in Washington, US, August 3, 2021. Jose Luis Magana/Pool via REUTERS
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday the launch of a strategic dialogue with Indonesia, and Washington said the two countries committed to working together on issues that include defending freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. );
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Meeting in Washington, Blinken and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also committed to work together against COVID-19 and the climate crisis and to boost bilateral trade and economic ties, the State Department said.