Myanmar Junta Chief To Attend Special Asean Summit In Indonesia

By LINDA KHOO HUI LI BANGKOK, April 17 (Bernama) – Myanmar junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing is expected to attend a special ASEAN summit in Indonesia on April 24. Thailand's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said Brunei as ASEAN chair has proposed April 24 for the meeting to be held at ASEAN’s headquarters in Jakarta. “Several leaders have confirmed their attendance including Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing. “Some leaders have yet to confirm,” he said in a message to the media Saturday. Myanmar’s neighbours have been in talks to resolve the turmoil and restore peace and stability in Myanmar. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s English news site, Cambodianess reported that Prime Minister Hun Sen will be attending in person the special ASEAN meeting. Hun Sen wrote on his Facebook on Friday that “it was an unavoidable obligation to take part in the April 24 summit in Jakarta, Indonesia” and would travel there in the morning and return the same day. Myanmar's military seized power in a coup against the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb 1. At least 700 people have been killed by security forces and more than 3,000 arrested since the coup, advocacy group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said. -- BERNAMA