11-8-2023 (JAKARTA) United States Senator Tammy Duckworth, representing Illinois, conveyed a pivotal message during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday. In her address, she emphasized the importance of perpetuating the role of the ASEAN special envoy for Myanmar, even after Indonesia concludes its tenure as the current chair next year.
As the forthcoming year ushers in Laos as the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the established mechanism dictates that the foreign minister of the chair nation assumes the mantle of special envoy for Myanmar.
The inception of the ASEAN special envoy office for Myanmar transpired this year through Indonesia’s proactive initiative. The office, currently led by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, stands as a pivotal locus for steering ASEAN’s collective efforts in addressing the multifaceted crisis in Myanmar.
Senator Duckworth’s visit to Jakarta was in conjunction with her participation in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), an event where the United States stands as an observer country.
Elaborating on her engagements during the assembly, Senator Duckworth underscored her interactions with representatives from diverse ASEAN countries and other observer nations. A core focus of these discussions revolved around the intricate challenges posed by the Myanmar crisis.
The 44th AIPA General Assembly convened in Jakarta on August 9, culminating in a significant consensus between AIPA and the observer nations. This accord centred on the commitment to provide essential humanitarian aid to the beleaguered populace of Myanmar, who have endured the repercussions of a protracted crisis.
Senator Duckworth lauded Indonesia’s influential leadership role, which has galvanized a collective pursuit towards a shared objective. Expressing her sentiments during her interactions with the Indonesian delegation, she accentuated her aspiration for the continuity of the special envoy’s office, even beyond Indonesia’s stewardship of the ASEAN chair.
Acknowledging the imminent transition of the current special representative, I Gede Ngurah Swajaya, who is set to assume the role of ambassador to Switzerland, Senator Duckworth advocated for the seamless succession of the envoy position with a new appointee.
The senator delineated the profound concern of the United States regarding the unabated human rights violations in Myanmar. She articulated that the impact has been most devastating on certain vulnerable segments of the population, particularly women, girls, and the Rohingya community, who have been disproportionately affected due to their religious affiliations.
In her parting remarks, Senator Duckworth implored Indonesia to persist in its leadership role, championing a robust stance against human rights violations and urging the trajectory of concerted efforts to alleviate the plight of Myanmar’s populace.
