The conflict in military-ruled Myanmar has been a difficult issue for the South-East Asian bloc Asean to address, with little progress made towards a resolution and intensifying fighting, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said.

Speaking at a forum in Hawaii streamed live in the Philippines yesterday, Marcos said there was commitment from Asean, but the issue was complex, including the humanitarian impact.

The United Nations says more than a million people have been displaced since Myanmar’s military staged a coup in 2021, upending a decade of tentative democracy and plunging the country into conflict and economic ruin.

“There is a great deal of impetus for Asean to solve this problem. But it is a very, very difficult problem,” Marcos said.

The junta’s post-coup crackdown on opponents gave rise to a resistance movement that has been growing in strength. Asean has barred the top generals from attending its meeting until they commit to the bloc’s two-year-old peace roadmap.

The Philippines will chair Asean in 2026 after it replaced Myanmar as host that year. — Reuters