Kuala Lumpur: Southeast Asian leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit have issued a heartfelt appeal for peace in Myanmar, urging all factions involved in the ongoing conflict to extend a temporary ceasefire and foster mutual trust to pave the way for an inclusive national dialogue.
Gathering in Kuala Lumpur on May 26-27, the heads of state and government from the ten ASEAN member nations—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—focused on regional economic cooperation and, notably, efforts to mediate the prolonged crisis in Myanmar. The summit also addressed the repercussions of U.S. tariffs on member economies.
In a unified statement, the ASEAN leaders called on "all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar to build trust towards convening an inclusive national dialogue by continuing to reach out to parties concerned in a sustainable manner, with the aim of achieving a durable peaceful resolution to the crisis." This appeal reflects ASEAN’s longstanding commitment to regional stability amid escalating violence and political turmoil in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, reports from the ground convey a starkly contrasting reality. According to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, faith and hope persist among Myanmar’s people despite the hardships. Father Stephen Chit Thein, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Myanmar, shared insights into the daily lives of the faithful. In Yangon and other central urban areas, life continues with relative calm, where church services and pastoral activities still take place, albeit under curfews and numerous restrictions imposed by the ongoing conflict.
However, Father Stephen emphasized that the situation is markedly more dire in Myanmar’s border regions, where fighting continues unabated, bringing immense suffering, displacement, and insecurity to local communities. The violence in these peripheral areas compounds the nation’s struggles, which have been further exacerbated by the devastating earthquake on March 28 that claimed over 3,000 lives and left widespread destruction.
“This is a time of great trial affecting the entire Burmese population,” Father Stephen reflected, yet he expressed steadfast faith rooted in the Jubilee Year’s theme: hope grounded in Christ, “who never disappoints and never abandons us.” This profound conviction, he noted, remains a source of strength for many enduring the ongoing crisis.
As ASEAN pushes for dialogue and peace, the resilience of Myanmar’s people underscores the urgent need for a resolution that can restore security, unity, and dignity to a nation long battered by conflict and tragedy.