Myanmar’s coup leader-turned-president wins back neighbours despite war

From Thailand to Myanmar, ASEAN leaders are embracing Min Aung Hlaing, but critics warn it emboldens a military that is still bombing civilians. Save Share Rohingya activist says it’s unfair to send refugees back to Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar –When Malaysia invited Myanmar’s coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing for avisit in September, it insisted the trip did not amount to recognition. The purpose, an official said, was to address the “longstanding issue” of refugees and migrants from Myanmar in Malaysia. But when Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Kuala Lumpur last week, the former general – whose power grab in 2021 triggered a devastating civil war – received a red carpet welcome, complete with an honour guard. After an official luncheon on Thursday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Myanmar was prepared to take its nationals back at its own cost, a message with appeal in a country where anti-refugee sentiment is growing. Malaysia hosts about 193,000 Myanmar nationals, most of them from the persecutedRohingyaMuslim minority. “Because the weather is favourable, I will dispatch Navy ships to repatriate them,” Min Aung Hlaing said. For his part, Anwar pledged tohelp reintegrate Myanmarinto the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 11-member regional bloc that has barred Min Aung Hlaing from its high-level meetings for refusing to carry out its peace plan. Malaysia was a vocal supporter of the plan, which is known as the Five Point Consensus and calls for an end to violence and “constructive dialogue” between the warring parties. The civil war in Myanmar is now in its fifth year and has killed as many as 100,000 people and displaced at least 3.5 million, according to monitoring groups. “Malaysia will do whatever is possible to make sure that we … ultimately, take Myanmar as part of our community of nations, without prejudice, and particularly in the context of ASEAN,” Anwar told reporters. Malaysia is the fifth ASEAN nation to host Min Aung Hlaing since he became president in April, after an election held in December and January, which major opposition parties were barred from participating in. In recent months, he has visited Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Following his return from Malaysia, his spokesperson said Indonesia and Brunei could be next....