Myanmar’s junta said Tuesday it will heed regional pleas to stop violence only when the coup-hit country “returns to stability”, as fresh fighting erupted with a major ethnic rebel group along its eastern border. The leaders issued a “five-point consensus” statement that called for the “immediate cessation of violence” and a visit to Myanmar by a regional special envoy. “ASEAN cannot dither here, as the junta moves to walk back even the limited agreement reached Saturday,” Marciel said in a tweet. There is a reason no one in Myanmar trusts the Tatmadaw,” he said, referring to the military by its Burmese name. But the junta -- which called AAPP an “illegal organisation” -- has registered a far lower death toll while blaming the violence on “rioters”.

Source: The Nation April 27, 2021 07:30 UTC