BANGKOK - Myanmar’s junta and a key opposition group have indicated they will extend a ceasefire to support more aid efforts, following a devastating earthquake in late March in the strife-torn nation, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on April 18.

Datuk Seri Anwar, who is also chair of the regional Asean bloc, revealed the outcome of talks he has held since April 17 with Myanmar’s junta chief and the prime minister of its shadow government in a rare outreach effort.

“There will be a ceasefire and no unnecessary provocations, because otherwise, the whole humanitarian exercise would fail,” Mr Anwar told reporters in the Thai capital.

“My initial exchange with both the SAC (State Administration Council) Prime Minister and NUG (National Unity Government) has been very successful,” he added, referring to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Besides his meeting with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok on April 17, the Malaysian premier said he also spoke on April 18 with Myanmar’s shadow administration, the NUG, as part of regional efforts to engage all parties in the conflict.

Myanmar has been ravaged by conflict since 2021 when its powerful military ousted an elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests that expanded into a nationwide civil war, displacing over 3.5 million people and shattering the economy.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in late March, which left more than 3,600 people dead and damaged critical infrastructure, has piled more misery on the impoverished nation but opened a diplomatic window for Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Myanmar’s junta announced a 20-day ceasefire on April 2, following a similar move by the opposition NUG.

However, the junta has continued military operations in some areas, according to the United Nations and other groups in Myanmar.

“Our priority is humanitarian efforts. They must have a ceasefire. They must ensure the safety of all the personnel helping out with the humanitarian arrangements,” Mr Anwar added.

The 10-nation Asean grouping has shunned the junta leadership since the coup began, barring Myanmar’s ruling generals from its meetings for their failure to comply with its peace plan.

“The Asean position is that we should be more involved in the effort to get them to agree on the basis of the five-point consensus,” Mr Anwar said, referring to Asean’s peace plan.

“I’ve already consulted Asean leaders that I will continue to engage.”

In the talks with the NUG, Mr Anwar said he had conveyed that Asean would continue dialogue with it and the junta, while humanitarian support would also continue.

The NUG, which includes remnants of the elected administration deposed by the 2021 coup, and other anti-junta groups had previously opposed the talks between the leaders of Malaysia and Myanmar, warning that any unilateral engagement with the military leader should be approached with “utmost caution”.

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who met Mr Anwar for a bilateral meeting on April 17, also pushed for further engagement with Myanmar.

“The involvement of all sides will lead to positive development in Myanmar in line with the Asean five-point consensus,” a Thai government spokesman said, referring to their discussions. REUTERS

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