Jakarta: Leaders of south-east Asian countries on Saturday reached consensus on five points towards resolving the crisis in military-ruled Myanmar at a special meeting.

Diplomatic sources told Reuters the consensus included starting dialogue with military leaders and ending violence.

Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is greeted by Indonesian officials upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on the outskirts of Jakarta on Saturday.Credit:Indonesian Presidential Palace via AP

The consensus also included allowing humanitarian help in the country, releasing political prisoners and appointing a special ASEAN envoy for the Myanmar crisis.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo called for the creation of an ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar to engage with all parties in the crisis-torn country.

The President, who is commonly known as Jokowi, called for aid channels to be open and for Myanmar to release all political prisoners.

Anti-coup protesters in Yangon, Myanmar on Saturday as General Min Aung Hlaing, the senior military leader behind the coup, met with ASEAN leaders in Jakarta.Credit:AP

Jokowi was speaking after the 10-member bloc’s crisis meeting on Myanmar, aimed at persuading Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military takeover in February that sparked turmoil in his country, to forge a path to end the violence.

Opposition leaders on Saturday slammed the meeting, saying it legitimised the coup at a time when ASEAN leaders had resisted meeting military opponents.

More to come.

Reuters

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