Indonesia president condemns 'shootout' involving ASEAN officials in Myanmar (updated)

Mexan

08/05/2023 07:53

(Adds location of incident in paragraph 2, background
paragraphs 3-4, 10)
       JAKARTA, May 8 (Reuters) - Indonesia's President Joko
Widodo on Monday condemned a "shootout" involving Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officials delivering
humanitarian aid in Myanmar, and called for an end to violence
in the strife-torn country.
    It was unclear who was behind the incident which, according
to Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah,
took place in Hsi Hseng township in the western Shan State and
targeted officials from the ASEAN humanitarian assistance
centre.    
    Myanmar has been trapped in a spiral of violence and
economic turmoil since the military in 2021 overthrew an elected
government and launched a brutal campaign to crush dissent. 
    Intensifying military attacks and clashes with armed
resistance movements across the country have prompted calls,
including from Myanmar's ASEAN neighbours, to end all
hostilities and allow access for humanitarian aid.
    Jokowi, as the Indonesian president is popularly known, did
not give details of what he called a "shootout" but said it
would not deter efforts by Indonesia and ASEAN to push for peace
in Myanmar. 
    "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.  
    Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government, which is allied
with the anti-junta militias, the People's Defence Forces (PDF),
said it was not involved in the incident.
    The PDF did not immediately respond to a request for
comment. 
    A spokesperson for the Myanmar junta did not respond to a
request for comment.
    Indonesia has for months been quietly engaging the Myanmar
junta, shadow government and armed ethnic groups to try and
kick-start a peace process, its foreign minister said last week.
    

 (Reporting by Ananda Teresia, Bernadette Christina, Stanley
Widianto in Jakarta; Additional reporting by Reuters staff;
Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((Ananda.Teresia@thomsonreuters.com;))