Photo: Reuter/Chalinee Thirasupa
On 29 July, US Senators wrote to the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the USAID urging the United States to urgently help the revolutionary forces in Myanmar.
They also urged that the United States should reinvigorate its diplomacy to bring together and empower the prodemocracy groups and ethnic organizations which are crucial to forming a future democratic government with an inclusive, federalist framework in Myanmar. 1
Speaking to reporters on the side-line of ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Vientiane of Laos, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on 27 July that the conflict in military-ruled Myanmar was worsening, and the situation there was unsustainable. She called on Myanmar military council to respect and follow the five-point consensus agreed by the ASEAN and should take a different path to resolve conflicts.
However, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan criticized that there has been little progress in the implementation of the ASEAN’s five-point consensus due to the lack of willingness on the part of the Myanmar military council. 2
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa urged Myanmar’s neighbouring countries to enhance their cooperation in supporting all parties in Myanmar’s civil war to cease ongoing fighting. He told media at the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting held in Vientiane of Laos on 27 July. 3
In addition, he pledged that the Thai government will provide US$250,000 as humanitarian aid to Myanmar through the ASEAN Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Coordination Center (AHA Centre).
On 19 July, a South African court ordered the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to review and suspend all approvals for arms exports to Myanmar. 4
In 2022, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), represented by Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) filed a complaint in 2022 about arms sales. The SALC was granted an order by the Gauteng Division of the High Court (Pretoria) in South Africa. 5
1 US Senators urgently call for providing more aid for Myanmar resistance forces.
2 Australia says the situation in Myanmar is getting worse. Singapore says it does not expect an easy solution to the Myanmar issue.
3 Thai Foreign Minister urges neighboring countries to work together to end Myanmar’s civil war
4 Thailand will provide 9 million baht in humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
5 South African court orders to stop arms exports to Myanmar.
