Myanmar people slam ASEAN-junta consensus to end violence, but no immediate protests

April 25 (Reuters) - People in Myanmar on Sunday criticised
an agreement between the country's junta chief and Southeast
Asian leaders to end the violence-hit nation's crisis, saying it
fell short of restoring democracy and holding the army
accountable for hundreds of civilian deaths.
There were no immediate protests in Myanmar's big cities a
day after the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Jakarta,
Indonesia, that agreed to end the violence but gave no roadmap
on how this would happen.
But several people took to social media to criticise the
deal.
"ASEAN's statement is a slap on the face of the people who
have been abused, killed and terrorised by the military," said a
Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) user called Mawchi Tun. "We do not need your help with
that mindset and approach."
According to a statement from group chair Brunei, a
consensus was reached on five points - ending violence, a
constructive dialogue among all parties, a special ASEAN envoy
to facilitate the dialogue, acceptance of aid and a visit by the
envoy to Myanmar.
The five-point consensus did not mention political
prisoners, although the chairman's statement said the meeting
"heard calls" for their release.
ASEAN leaders had wanted a commitment from Min Aung Hlaing
to restrain his security forces, which the Assistance
Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) says have killed 748
people since a mass civil disobedience movement erupted to
challenge his Feb. 1 coup against the elected government of Aung
San Suu Kyi.
AAPP, a Myanmar activist group, says over 3,300 are in
detention.
"Statement doesn't reflect any of people's desires," wrote
Nang Thit Lwin in a comment on a news story in domestic Myanmar
media on the ASEAN deal. "To release prisoners and detainees, to
take responsibility for dead lives, to respect election results
and restore democratic civilian government."
Aaron Htwe, another Facebook user, wrote: "Who will pay the
price for the over 700 innocent lives."
The military has defended its coup by alleging that the
landslide win by Suu Kyi's party of November's election was
fraudulent, although the election commission dismissed the
objections.
The ASEAN gathering was the first coordinated international
effort to ease the crisis in Myanmar, an impoverished country
that neighbours China, India and Thailand and has been in
turmoil since the coup. Besides the protests, deaths and
arrests, a nationwide strike has crippled economic activity.
Myanmar's parallel National Unity Government (NUG),
comprised of pro-democracy figures, remnants of Suu Kyi's ousted
administration and representatives of armed ethnic groups, said
it welcomed the consensus reached but said the junta had to be
held to its promises.
"We look forward to firm action by ASEAN to follow up its
decisions and to restore our democracy," said Dr. Sasa,
spokesman for the NUG.
Besides the junta chief, the leaders of Indonesia, Vietnam,
Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Brunei were at the meeting,
along with the foreign ministers of Laos, Thailand and the
Philippines.