Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement criticising the ASEAN special envoy, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, following his meeting with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing on Monday 21 March.

In the statement Phil Robertson, the HRW Deputy Asia Director said: "By rushing to Myanmar to embrace top-level junta representatives without a clear agreement for steps forward on the Five Point Consensus, or even the possibility of meeting all meaningful stakeholders, including senior NLD representatives, Foreign Minister Prak Sakhonn is granting the junta a public relations windfall that undermines the limited regional pressure being placed on Myanmar.

“At every step of the way as ASEAN chair, the Cambodian government has played the game crooked, with a clear tilt to the side of the junta at the expense of imprisoned NLD politicians and civil society activists. Phnom Penh has also given the cold shoulder to the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) which many Burmese people believe to be their true representatives.

“Prak Sakhonn's mission shows why the concept of "ASEAN centrality" in the Myanmar crisis is failing, based on a lack of real political commitment to compel hard choices from Myanmar's generals."