Myanmar's military government has rejected the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s demand for the unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi. It clearly announced that the position of "ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar" will no longer be necessary when Singapore assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, emphasizing that all actions must strictly follow Myanmar's legal procedures.
Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement responding to ASEAN's latest demand for the unconditional release of 81-year-old former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and requested that the ASEAN Special Envoy meet her on the next mission. Myanmar made it clear that although the government has previously reduced her sentence on humanitarian grounds, her full and unconditional release "must be carried out in accordance with the law only."
Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted in a military coup in February 2021 and has been sentenced on multiple charges including corruption, election fraud, and violations of the Official Secrets Act. Supporters and human rights organizations view these charges as politically motivated harassment. Despite several sentence reductions, she remains imprisoned with a total sentence exceeding 18 years and was recently transferred to house arrest in the capital, Naypyidaw.
A key point in the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement was signaling rejection of ASEAN's future role. It said Myanmar will continue to work with Maria Teresa Lazaro, the Philippine Foreign Minister and current ASEAN Special Envoy, until her term ends but sees "no necessity" to appoint or maintain the position of ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar after Singapore takes over as ASEAN chair on 1 January 2027.
Myanmar cited that it currently has a democratically elected multiparty government reflecting the genuine will of the people and is now fully governing the country. It also warned that it will take "appropriate retaliatory measures on a case-by-case basis" if ASEAN or any member states treat Myanmar unfairly or apply double standards.
Since late 2021, ASEAN has suspended invitations for Myanmar's military leaders to attend its summits, as Myanmar has failed to comply with the "Five-Point Consensus" aimed at ending violence and enabling political dialogue with all parties.
Although President Min Aung Hlaing has tried to restore relations with ASEAN following elections and recently relaxed restrictions by allowing International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives to visit Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time in five years on 3 August, the Naypyidaw government has increasingly shown a hardline stance toward ASEAN. Min Aung Hlaing stated in late July that the Five-Point Consensus "is not an agreement among all ASEAN member states" and is therefore void, a position echoed by Myanmar’s parliament which rejected the plan as interference in internal affairs.
Myanmar's latest stance underscores the difficult and indirect path to resolving its political crisis, while ASEAN continues to insist that the Five-Point Consensus remains the sole framework for restoring relations and fully reintegrating Myanmar into the regional community.