Because the coup, Myanmar’s safety forces have arrested greater than 9,000 folks, of whom an estimated 7,355 are nonetheless in detention, in keeping with non-profit group Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
In a press release, the present ASEAN chair, Brunei, mentioned there had been “inadequate progress” on a roadmap to revive peace in Myanmar, including the group would “give area to Myanmar to revive its inner affairs and return to normalcy.”
In response, Min Aung Hlaing blamed Myanmar’s opposition Nationwide Unity Authorities and varied ethnic armed teams for the continuing violence, and mentioned ASEAN ought to have focused them as an alternative of the junta.
“Extra violence occurred as a result of provocations of terrorist teams,” Min Aung Hlaing mentioned in a speech Monday. “Nobody cares about their violence and is simply demanding we clear up the difficulty. ASEAN ought to work on that.”
The feedback, made on state tv, are Min Aung Hlaing’s first remarks since ASEAN’s announcement.
“The junta will proceed to refuse being clear concerning the particular person individuals launched, and who stays detained,” AAPP mentioned in a press release. “The launched ‘demonstrators’ had been practising the elemental proper to free meeting in opposition to an illegitimate coup try.”
UN Particular Rapporteur Tom Andrews welcomed the discharge of some prisoners however mentioned it was “outrageous” that they had been detained within the first place.
“The junta is releasing political prisoners in Myanmar not due to a change of coronary heart, however due to stress,” he mentioned in a press release posted to Twitter.
Min Aung Hlaing declared himself Prime Minister of a newly shaped caretaker authorities in August, promising to carry new elections inside two years and work with a particular envoy named by ASEAN.
Wayne Chang, Cape Diamond and Hannah Ritchie contributed to this report. Further reporting by Reuters.
