Cambodia says leader's trip to Myanmar 'good' amid criticism

PHNOM PEHN – Cambodia’s person returned location Saturday from the archetypal sojourn by a caput of authorities to Myanmar since the subject takeover past twelvemonth plunged it into turmoil, with his overseas curate declaring the ngo a occurrence though determination was small grounds of a breakthrough.

Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn told reporters that talks betwixt Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar's person achieved “a precise good, affirmative effect with a progressive measurement forward" connected the implementation of bid efforts agreed to by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a determination bloc presently led by Cambodia.

Hun Sen's gathering with Myanmar's subject chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who overthrew the elected authorities of Aung San Suu Kyi past February, triggered protests successful Myanmar and disapproval abroad. Opponents said it legitimized the subject takeover and broke the generals’ near-total diplomatic isolation.

The military's seizure of powerfulness has led to wide struggle with civilians forming guerrilla groups and thousands of radical driven from their homes by service offensives.

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“If determination is anyone who opposes progressing these negotiations and the agreements similar this, it is lone those radical who emotion war, those radical who bash not privation to spot Myanmar instrumentality to stableness and peace,” said Prak Sokhonn, who is besides ASEAN's peculiar envoy to Myanmar.

Friday’s associated connection connected the talks, which described them arsenic “frank and candid,” said Min Aung Hlaing was extending a cease-fire until the extremity of the year, and that some leaders would propulsion for a gathering of stakeholders connected delivering humanitarian aid.

The cease-fire connection is improbable to beryllium taken earnestly by the military’s opponents. Such arrangements are routinely breached successful Myanmar. The cease-fire besides specifically referred lone to long-standing ethic equipped groups, not the caller civilian guerrilla units that are presently doing astir of the fighting.

Prak Sokhonn besides disclosed that Hun Sen brought up the lawsuit of Australian Sean Turnell, a erstwhile economical advisor to Suu Kyi who is connected proceedings successful Myanmar connected charges of violating authorities secrets. He said that Hun Sen raised the substance astatine the petition of Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

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“Hun Sen raised the contented with Min Aung Hlaing straight and helium responded that the lawsuit is present earlier the tribunal but helium said that erstwhile it is completed, the elder wide volition see the case. That means helium promised that helium would get backmost to Hun Sen with affirmative news,” Prak Sokhonn said.

Last April, ASEAN leaders, including Min Aung Hlaing, agreed connected a five-point roadmap toward a peaceful colony of the Myanmar crisis, including an extremity to unit and a governmental dialog betwixt each stakeholders.

The Myanmar person was barred successful October from attending ASEAN meetings aft the group's peculiar envoy was prevented from gathering with Suu Kyi and different governmental detainees, which was 1 of the stipulations of the agreement.

Myanmar’s subject has said Hun Sen volition not beryllium allowed to conscionable with Suu Kyi, who was convicted successful December connected charges of incitement and violating coronavirus restrictions and sentenced to 4 years successful situation — a condemnation that Min Aung Hlaing past chopped successful half.

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She is besides facing a drawstring of different charges.

The Myanmar subject has a past of bloodshed, including a brutal run against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Its seizure of powerfulness provoked nationwide nonviolent demonstrations, which information forces person quashed with deadly force.

The subject has precocious engaged successful convulsive suppression of each dissent, disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings. It has besides launched airstrikes and crushed offensives against taste equipped rebel groups.

Security forces person killed astir 1,443 civilians, according to a elaborate tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. As the crackdown has go much severe, an equipped absorption has grown wrong the country.

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Harmer reported from Bangkok.

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