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Agence France-Presse

Reuters

A convoy of diplomats travelling in Myanmar came under fire from an unknown armed group, a military official and a diplomat said Monday.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration in February 2021.
On Sunday a convoy of several vehicles travelling in Taunggyi township in eastern Myanmar’s Shan State was attacked by an unknown armed group, a foreign diplomat based in Yangon told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity.
“A convoy with some diplomats was attacked yesterday morning,” the source said.
Can an Indonesian general help Asean move Myanmar peace plan along?
The convoy was carrying diplomats from the embassies of Indonesia and Singapore and officials coordinating humanitarian relief from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, they added, noting that no casualties were reported.
A senior military official who did not want to be named confirmed that a convoy had been fired on.
The officials and diplomats had been travelling Sunday to “hand over humanitarian aid,” Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Monday.
Stop using force, stop violence because it’s the people who will be victims. This condition will not make anybody win
Joko Widodo, Indonesian president
“Regretfully on their way, there was a shoot-out,” he said, without giving any further details.
“Stop using force, stop violence because it’s the people who will be victims. This condition will not make anybody win,” he said, adding that Indonesia encourages all stakeholders to have a dialogue and find solutions.
It remained unclear who was behind the attack.
Agence France-Presse has asked the Indonesia and Singapore embassies in Yangon for comment.


Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which is allied with the anti-junta militias, the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), said it was not aware of any attack.
The PDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesman for the Myanmar junta did not respond to a request for comment.
Southern Shan state – home to Taunggyi township – has seen relatively little of the violence that has ravaged Myanmar since the coup more than two years ago.
Myanmar coup anniversary: ‘Hatred of junta’ mounts ahead of planned polls
But in March around 30 people sheltering at a monastery in the same state were killed, with the junta and anti-coup fighters trading accusations over the massacre.
Southeast Asian leaders will this week meet in Indonesia for a summit expected to be dominated by the Myanmar crisis.
Long slammed by critics as a toothless talking shop, Asean has led diplomatic attempts to resolve the bloody crisis.
But its efforts have stalled as the junta ignores international criticism and refuses to engage with its opponents, which include ousted lawmakers, anti-coup “People’s Defence Forces” and ethnic minority armed groups.


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Asean

Jokowi condemns attack on Asean officials from Indonesia, Singapore delivering aid in Myanmar

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Monday condemned an attack in Myanmar on ASEAN officials delivering humanitarian aid. Photo: Reuters

Asean push for Myanmar peace continues as it ropes in ‘quiet’ partners China, India, Japan

Protesters hold images of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and a flag of Myanmar during a demonstration in Bangkok on February 1 to mark the second anniversary of the coup. Photo: AFP

Members of an ethnic armed group take part in a training exercise in Myanmar’s northern Shan state in March. The junta has sought to crush armed resistance to its coup, leading to civilian deaths, arrests and casualties. Photo: AFP

Members of the Myanmar military march in Naypyidaw at a parade to mark the country’s Independence Day in January. Photo: AFP

China the ‘natural suspect’ behind military upgrades on Myanmar islands near India

A satellite view of the airfield and associated facilities on Myanmar’s Great Coco Island. Photo: Google Earth

Satellite pictures of Myanmar’s Great Coco Island show a runway has been extended in recent years and new facilities built. Photo: Google Earth

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at a parade in March. The cash-strapped junta has been ostracised by many nations since its 2021 coup. Photo: Xinhua

Malaysia’s Anwar says Asean cannot view Myanmar crisis as a ‘purely internal’ issue

Protesters flash the three-finger salute during a demonstration outside the embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok on February 1, 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim (left) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr shake hands at Malakanang presidential palace in Manila on March 1, 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE

Asean has no licence to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs: Singapore

Protesters hold up three-finger salutes during a demonstration in Bangkok on February 1, 2023. Photo: AFP 

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan underscored that Myanmar had been struggling to forge a common identity and bring its various component parts together since World War II. Photo: AP

Members of the Myanmar military march at a parade ground to mark the country’s Independence Day in Naypyidaw on January 4, 2023. Photo: AFP

Asean’s collective position is that the junta must abide by a peace plan, dubbed the Five-Point Consensus, agreed between the bloc and Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing (above) to restore democracy. Photo: via AP

Malaysian PM Anwar’s suggestion of Asean ‘carving out Myanmar’ faces uphill task

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s suggested this week that Asean should “carve Myanmar out”, drawing debate whether the bloc has the ability to suspend a member. Photo: Bloomberg/File

Protesters hold portraits of Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration outside the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to mark the second anniversary of the military coup in the Southeast Asian country. Photo: dpa

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

The convoy was carrying diplomats from the embassies of Indonesia and Singapore and officials coordinating humanitarian relief from Asean
The Myanmar junta did not respond to a request for comment, while Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government said it was not aware of any attack


Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo did not provide details of the incident but said it would not deter efforts by Indonesia and Asean to push for peace in Myanmar.


Jokowi condemns attack on Asean officials from Indonesia, Singapore delivering aid in Myanmar

The convoy was carrying diplomats from the embassies of Indonesia and Singapore and officials coordinating humanitarian relief from Asean The Myanmar junta did not respond to a request for comment, while Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government said it was not aware of any attack

The convoy was carrying diplomats from the embassies of Indonesia and Singapore and officials coordinating humanitarian relief from Asean

The Myanmar junta did not respond to a request for comment, while Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government said it was not aware of any attack