CALD Statement on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Recent Actions and Statements on Myanmar

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) is appalled by recent actions and statements of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen relating to the engagement and recognition of the Myanmar military junta, in line with Cambodia’s assumption of the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2022.

On 7 December, the Hun Sen met with Myanmar’s military-appointed foreign minister in Phnom Penh — a day after the junta drew the condemnation of the international community for sentencing deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to jail for incitement and breaching COVID-19 rules.

During the Phnom Penh meeting, he also accepted the invitation to visit Myanmar on 7-8 January 2022, making him the first foreign leader to visit Myanmar since the coup.

Furthermore, the Cambodian prime minister stated that the Myanmar coup leader and his associates – who were previously disallowed to participate in the most recent ASEAN summit meetings – have the right to attend the regional association’s events.

Responding to critics of his Myanmar approach, Hun Sen reportedly said: “Please do not bother me, give me time [to meet the leader of Myanmar].  I am not your teacher and you are not my teacher.”

The appointment of Cambodian foreign minister as ASEAN’s Special Envoy to Myanmar on 15 December also indicates that Hun Sen’s strategy of engagement with Myanmar would be institutionalize as an ASEAN policy.

These actions and statements of Hun Sen go against the previous decision of ASEAN to disallow Myanmar’s military leaders from attending its summit meetings for their failure to cease hostilities, allow humanitarian access, start dialogue with opponents, and allow the ASEAN special envoy access to all parties (including Aung San Suu Kyi), in line with ASEAN’s 5-Point Consensus.

Hun Sen’s actions and statements severely undermines the credibility and legitimacy of ASEAN in the eyes of the Southeast Asian peoples and the international community.  This would, without a doubt, affect negatively on the capacity of ASEAN to play a constructive role in the resolution of the Myanmar crisis.

In this regard, CALD, as a regional network of liberal and democratic political parties in Asia, would like to appeal to other ASEAN members and the international community to consider undertaking the following actions:

ASEAN

• Take into consideration the fulfillment of the 5-Point Consensus as a prerequisite for any meaningful engagement with the Myanmar military junta
• Examine how Hun Sen is dealing with the Myanmar crisis and see whether his actions and statements are in line with ASEAN’s previous agreements on the matter
• Consider the unconditional release and dropping of charges against members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and other political prisoners, if warranted

International Community

• Consider the cancellation of the US-ASEAN Summit scheduled in January 2022 if Hun Sen continues with his engagement with the military junta
• Look at the possibility of holding parallel talks with ASEAN diasporas such as with the representatives of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) and Cambodian opposition in the US
• Examine the possibility of having coordinated and targeted actions against the leadership of both Cambodia and Myanmar should they continue setting aside the 5-Point Consensus
• Consider the rejection of the Myanmar military junta’s proposal to hold re-elections and any attempt of the Hun Sen government to impose conditions for the return of opposition leaders in exile
• Take into account the possibility of supporting the democratic opposition in both countries so they could assist in their respective countries’ return to democracy

How ASEAN responds to the recent actions and statements of Hun Sen could potentially affect its stature as a relevant and credible actor in regional and international affairs.  We in CALD appeal to other ASEAN member-states to assist in the peaceful resolution of the Myanmar crisis based on the 5-Point Consensus, and to thwart any attempt by individual states or leaders to undermine this consensual agreement that ASEAN, as a regional organization, has worked so hard for.