Strengthening Asean S Myanmar Quake Response

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 The horrific earthquake in central Myanmar last Friday has killed thousands. Recent reports put the deaths at over 10,000 people. The casualties are mounting as the junta is failing to engage in a meaningful relief effort.
Instead, the junta has launched over 20 (!!!) bombing attacks on civilians in the hard-hit earthquake zone over the past four days, particularly in the Shan and Sagaing states.
These bombings have further damaged infrastructure, including hospitals, and cost lives. The junta has also denied access to the holy Buddhist city of Sagaing, as doctors have been blocked from entering, and volunteer rescue efforts were stopped.
Myanmar’s shameful military is using the tragedy to inflict additional harm; it is weaponising international assistance as it is escalating conflict.
The junta’s actions are despicable and are repeating the crimes against humanity actions that they have repeatedly engaged in killing Rohingya, ethnic minorities and, most recently, Bamar people in Myanmar.
To date, the most impactful relief efforts have been led by ordinary citizens, underfunded civil society groups and resistance forces, including groups aligned with the National Unity Government (NUG). The latter has called for a partial ceasefire in the earthquake-affected areas of six regions, a ceasefire that the junta has refused to accept.
The ethnic group Three Brotherhood Alliance has also announced a month of unilateral humanitarian peace, pledging not to engage in fighting unless in self-defence.
Given the pariah nature of the junta, international assistance has been limited, as only a handful of countries have provided assistance. Even more troubling, the military has stymied efforts for many countries to reach those most impacted by the earthquake, asking for their efforts to be focused in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw rather than in areas where there is more severe damage.
The serious situation on the ground calls for a stronger, more inclusive response to the crisis by Asean. Malaysia as chair can do more and take more constructive steps to assist the people of Myanmar rather than empower and legitimise a military that continues to abuse its powers.
Asean’s too limited response
So far, Asean has been slow in responding. The need for Asean to step up assistance and play a more prominent role in the international humanitarian relief effort is urgent.
Malaysia has taken key steps. Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim spoke to the junta’s chief criminal, Min Aung Hlaing, who is pledging assistance as the chair of Asean.
He pledged RM10 million in aid, the largest pledge from the region and Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan is to make an important visit to the country this week.
Malaysia has also provided assistance in deploying the skilled Special Malaysian Search and Rescue Team (Smart) and a search and rescue (SAR) team. Malaysian rescuers have managed to get into the province of Sagaing and have visited over five different sites, helping to save lives.
Malaysia joins the rescue missions of Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia from the region, with additional efforts from China, India, Russia, South Korea and Japan. Other countries are promising aid.
To understand, however, the overall international rescue effort is less than 2,500 people and aid pledges less than US$40 million. Beyond Malaysia, no other country in Asean has promised substantive financial assistance.
This assistance is far short of what is needed for this humanitarian disaster that has affected six regions of over 15 million people. Reports highlight the “smell of death” in cities and towns, where physical damage will cost billions.
It is important to appreciate that this earthquake is one of the worst tragedies Myanmar and the region have faced in terms of physical damage and potential loss of life. Reports from the ground continue to highlight the suffering of people who have been left without shelter and basic needs.
The death toll will rise as more bodies are found and will rise further if humanitarian assistance and access are not improved.
Not another Cyclone Nargis, but an opportunity
Asean has a record of using a disaster as an opportunity to provide needed assistance in Myanmar. In May 2008, when the deadly tropical storm Nargis devastated the Ayeyarwady region, killing 140,000 people and causing millions in damage, then Asean led by Thailand’s Surin Pitsuwan negotiated with the junta to allow humanitarian access and assistance.
The humanitarian relief effort opened up the door not just for assistance; it also served as a catalyst to bring about change to a political stalemate within Myanmar.
The Special Malaysian Search and Rescue Team on a search and rescue mission in earthquake-hit MyanmarToday, 16 years later, the situation is different; the acrimony and distrust on the ground is deeper. Myanmar has been starved of social services and funds as the junta has focused on the fighting.
The military’s nationalist mission of serving the country has been replaced by a focus on its own survival, rapacious greed and criminality. The current Tatmadaw, the country’s military, is not fit for disaster relief, least of all governance.
There continues to be a misconception within Asean that the junta is “the government” of Myanmar – it is one of many stakeholders in a contentious civil war, a war that the junta is losing.
That the earthquake struck in the centre of Myanmar, at the heart of the junta’s traditional power base, is widely seen within Myanmar as a negative judgment of the military, echoing the widespread hatred of the organisation within society.
Measures to consider
Given these difficult conditions, Asean support for the Myanmar people at this time of tragedy is critical. Under Malaysia’s leadership, Asean needs to take more concrete actions.
Here are six measures to consider.
Openly demand a ceasefire on the part of the junta. The fighting must stop to allow humanitarian efforts to move forward. We have already seen that the conflict is curtailing the capacity for emergency responses and the junta’s bombings are adding to the bloodshed.
Work inclusively with all stakeholders in the country. This includes the NUG, Three Brotherhood Alliance and other ethnic armed groups. Critical is greater cooperation with civil society groups to channel aid to those in need.
Asean has the Myanmar networks to work with different civil society organizations, local communities and stakeholders, to ensure that funds reach ordinary people.
This serious situation requires leadership that can bridge Myanmar’s divides rather than exacerbate them. For greater legitimacy of the relief effort, an inclusive approach requires open engagement with all the major stakeholders, not just calls with a tainted one of them.
Myanmar’s military junta leader Min Aung HlaingKeep in mind that well over a third of the territory of the devastated earthquake regions is held by groups other than the junta.
Press for an end to internet censorship. Censorship limits the communication needed for humanitarian efforts. Even if this is a temporary measure, this could save lives.
Allow safe passage for aid workers. Borders with India and Thailand can be opened to allow international aid. Military checkpoints should be reduced to facilitate access.
Minimally the checkpoints should not be used for extortion and harassment of volunteer rescuers. Humanitarian organisations working with the country, such as Mercy Malaysia and other Asean organisations, should be granted access to the impacted regions.
This access will also improve understanding of needs on the ground, providing more reliable information.
Ratchet up Asean Humanitarian Coordination. Empower the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA Centre) to coordinate Asean assistance in Myanmar, assuring that relief efforts are not piecemeal.
The centre marked 20 years since the December 2004 Aceh tsunami last year. It has evolved into one of the strongest multilateral bodies addressing disasters globally and brings to the table experience and deep ties to a range of partners from international organisations and the private sector to civil society organisations.
This organisation can be an umbrella to bring in Asean NGOs and coordinate with humanitarian organisations and civil society groups within Myanmar.
Hold an urgent Asean conference foreign ministers’ meeting. While the Malaysian foreign minister’s trip to Myanmar is important and deserves recognition, Asean as an organisation needs to discuss steps ahead, including acknowledging that greater humanitarian support for Myanmar is needed and that the outdated five-point consensus is now obsolete.
Given the circumstances, a new compact and consensus can – and should be – reached.
The Special Malaysian Search and Rescue Team in MyanmarAs the aftershocks of the Myanmar earthquake continue, conditions provide yet another chance for international engagement for Myanmar, for Asean to recalibrate and finally move its attention to those most in need after the 2021 military coup, to the Myanmar people.
They need and deserve more. Time is of the essence, as every minute counts when saving lives. - Mkini
BRIDGET WELSH is an honorary research associate of the University of Nottingham’s Asia Research Institute, a senior research associate at Hu Fu Centre for East Asia Democratic Studies, and a senior associate fellow at The Habibie Centre. Her writings can be found at bridgetwelsh.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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