(Singapore, 3rd) Myanmar claims that East Timor has violated the ASEAN Charter principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and therefore opposes East Timor’s accession to ASEAN. East Timor was originally scheduled to formally join in October this year, but this may now change.
Thailand’s Public Broadcasting Service quoted sources on Wednesday (July 2) reporting that Myanmar's military government recently sent a letter to Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, stating its position that East Timor failed to adhere to the non-interference principle of the ASEAN Charter.
The letter, signed by Han Win Aung, Director General of ASEAN-Myanmar Affairs and Myanmar’s representative to the Senior Officials Meeting, stated that if East Timor continues to openly violate the principle, Myanmar would reject East Timor's joining ASEAN.
Myanmar also called on the ASEAN chair and secretariat to “suspend all related procedures until East Timor adjusts its stance and makes a clear commitment to correcting its policy on Myanmar.”
The sources said the Myanmar military government urged East Timor to avoid contact with entities that clearly oppose or conflict with the stance of ASEAN member countries, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and armed groups opposing the Myanmar military.
Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute’s ASEAN Studies Centre coordinator, Lim Wei Ling, said in an interview that East Timor’s direct engagement with the NUG and allowing the NUG to set up a liaison office locally was seen by the Myanmar military government as violating the principle of non-interference and as a challenge to Myanmar’s sovereignty.
In 2023, East Timor President Ramos-Horta met with the NUG’s foreign minister Zin Mar Aung, which drew the ire of the Myanmar military government and led to the expulsion of East Timor’s chargé d'affaires in Myanmar. The military government has designated the NUG as a terrorist organization.
Lim Wei Ling pointed out that former ASEAN chairs have also engaged with the NUG, but the Myanmar military government has singled out East Timor, “weakening the strength of Myanmar’s argument.”
Malaysia’s Pacific Research Center chief advisor, Oh Ei Sun, believes the military government raised its opposition now to possibly divert attention and reduce pressure from ASEAN’s urging for national reconciliation in Myanmar, or to prevent ASEAN from taking steps favorable to Myanmar’s democratic forces.
East Timor applied to join ASEAN as early as 2011, and ASEAN member states agreed in principle at the end of 2022. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar confirmed this May that East Timor would formally become the 11th member at the ASEAN summit in October after meeting economic requirements.
Oh Ei Sun said in an interview that according to Article 6 of the ASEAN Charter, any country must obtain the consent of all member states to join ASEAN. This means Myanmar’s opposition could affect East Timor’s accession process.
However, Lim Wei Ling noted that while ASEAN adheres to the consensus principle, it also recognizes that collective decisions should not be unilaterally obstructed once made, so Myanmar’s opposition is unlikely to overturn or delay East Timor’s accession unless other member states also suddenly change their positions.
Julio Tomas Pinto, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the National University of East Timor and former Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defense, told Lianhe Zaobao that East Timor is confident it will formally become a member of ASEAN in October. “If we are able to join, we will respect all ASEAN rules… We will also help Myanmar become a democratic country that respects human rights and cares for its people.”
Thailand’s Public Broadcasting Service quoted sources on Wednesday (July 2) reporting that Myanmar's military government recently sent a letter to Malaysia, the current ASEAN chair, stating its position that East Timor failed to adhere to the non-interference principle of the ASEAN Charter.
The letter, signed by Han Win Aung, Director General of ASEAN-Myanmar Affairs and Myanmar’s representative to the Senior Officials Meeting, stated that if East Timor continues to openly violate the principle, Myanmar would reject East Timor's joining ASEAN.
Myanmar also called on the ASEAN chair and secretariat to “suspend all related procedures until East Timor adjusts its stance and makes a clear commitment to correcting its policy on Myanmar.”
The sources said the Myanmar military government urged East Timor to avoid contact with entities that clearly oppose or conflict with the stance of ASEAN member countries, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and armed groups opposing the Myanmar military.
Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute’s ASEAN Studies Centre coordinator, Lim Wei Ling, said in an interview that East Timor’s direct engagement with the NUG and allowing the NUG to set up a liaison office locally was seen by the Myanmar military government as violating the principle of non-interference and as a challenge to Myanmar’s sovereignty.
In 2023, East Timor President Ramos-Horta met with the NUG’s foreign minister Zin Mar Aung, which drew the ire of the Myanmar military government and led to the expulsion of East Timor’s chargé d'affaires in Myanmar. The military government has designated the NUG as a terrorist organization.
Lim Wei Ling pointed out that former ASEAN chairs have also engaged with the NUG, but the Myanmar military government has singled out East Timor, “weakening the strength of Myanmar’s argument.”
Malaysia’s Pacific Research Center chief advisor, Oh Ei Sun, believes the military government raised its opposition now to possibly divert attention and reduce pressure from ASEAN’s urging for national reconciliation in Myanmar, or to prevent ASEAN from taking steps favorable to Myanmar’s democratic forces.
East Timor applied to join ASEAN as early as 2011, and ASEAN member states agreed in principle at the end of 2022. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar confirmed this May that East Timor would formally become the 11th member at the ASEAN summit in October after meeting economic requirements.
Oh Ei Sun said in an interview that according to Article 6 of the ASEAN Charter, any country must obtain the consent of all member states to join ASEAN. This means Myanmar’s opposition could affect East Timor’s accession process.
However, Lim Wei Ling noted that while ASEAN adheres to the consensus principle, it also recognizes that collective decisions should not be unilaterally obstructed once made, so Myanmar’s opposition is unlikely to overturn or delay East Timor’s accession unless other member states also suddenly change their positions.
Julio Tomas Pinto, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the National University of East Timor and former Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defense, told Lianhe Zaobao that East Timor is confident it will formally become a member of ASEAN in October. “If we are able to join, we will respect all ASEAN rules… We will also help Myanmar become a democratic country that respects human rights and cares for its people.”