A group of lawmakers in the Philippines have urged their government to take a firmer stance on the crisis in Myanmar, filing a resolution that calls for stronger support for the country’s pro-democracy movement and greater pressure on its ruling military junta.
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The push comes as the Philippines prepares to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next year, raising expectations over how it will handle one of the bloc’s most divisive issues.
Analysts say the resolution reflects a desire to align more closely with the assertive stance of Malaysia, the bloc’s current chair, but warn it could strain regional consensus and complicate Manila’s broader diplomatic agenda.
Sixteen lawmakers from the House of Representatives filed a resolution on Tuesday that urges the Department of Foreign Affairs to lead efforts and “take bolder initiatives” within the bloc to address the human rights crisis and help restore democracy in Myanmar, which has been under military rule following a coup in February 2021.
These include adopting concrete measures to support the efforts of the Myanmar people in fighting military rule, and condemning the junta’s plans to hold a general election in December.
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The resolution also urges the Philippines to hold Myanmar’s junta to account for reported human rights violations and engage with the National Unity Government, a coalition of elected lawmakers who were ousted during the military coup in 2021.