Senate spokesperson: ASEAN non-interference central to visit by Myanmar leader
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing (left) is greeted by Senate president Hun Sen, Cambodian acting head of state. FN
The leader of Myanmar has arrived in Cambodia for a state visit, amid mounting criticism over human rights abuses in his home country and calls for his arrest under the mechanism of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
President Min Aung Hlaing is in Phnom Penh, where he met with Senate president and acting head of state Hun Sen, as well as Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The September 11-12 visit follows a trip to Vietnam. He has previously visited Russia, India, Thailand, China and Laos.
Human rights defenders have lambasted Cambodia for welcoming the Myanmar leader, pointing to widespread allegations of rights violations under his regime and an election that Western nations have decried as illegitimate.
Some critics have gone so far as to call on Cambodia to arrest Min Aung Hlaing under the ICC mechanism, noting that the Kingdom is a state party to the international court.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting between Hun Sen and Min Aung Hlaing, Senate spokesperson Chea Thyrith stated that Cambodia and Myanmar share an enduring friendship and have never experienced any friction throughout their 70-year relationship.
Addressing critics who claim that Cambodia is legitimising Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar’s lawful leader, Thyrith countered that Cambodia is far from the first nation Min Aung Hlaing has visited since assuming the presidency.
“We know that Min Aung Hlaing has already visited all the countries surrounding us. What does that say about his government?” he asked rhetorically.
“Another question we should ponder is, since Min Aung Hlaing was elected president by the parliament, how many countries have actually withdrawn their ambassadors from Myanmar to signal non-recognition? Have there been any? Which countries?”
“So, if all those nations continue diplomatic cooperation with Min Aung Hlaing, what does that mean? Is it recognition or not?” he continued.
Thyrith added that Cambodia itself had faced periods in history where certain factions refused to recognise its government, yet those entities ultimately continued to work with the Kingdom.
He emphasised that Cambodia strictly adheres to the core ASEAN principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.
According to Thyrith, Cambodia and Myanmar signed four agreements during the visit, each aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation.
-Phnom Penh Post-
