ASEAN sees positive development in Myanmar after ICRC met with Suu Kyi
ASEAN has welcomed the recent meeting between an ICRC representative and detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a positive step towards “peace and reconciliation in Myanmar.”
Anna Mogato | August 7, 2026
MANILA — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed the recent meeting between a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a positive step towards “peace and reconciliation in Myanmar.”
In a statement on Friday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro, who is also the ASEAN special envoy, viewed the meeting as a step towards normalization and reconciliation.
Lazaro said the ICRC Resident Representative in Myanmar, Arnaud de Baecque, had met on Monday with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is held under house arrest. (Also read: ASEAN makes headway in Myanmar, Code of Conduct negotiations)
“We view this as a positive step towards inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation among all parties in Myanmar and hope that this will pave the way for regular and sustained access for her family, legal counsel, medical professionals, and appropriate humanitarian representatives,” the statement read.
The statement also called for further expansion of access to, and the unconditional release of, political detainees from February 2021, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
“We believe that further positive steps would contribute to building trust and creating a more conducive environment for lasting peace and stability in Myanmar,” the statement added.
Lazaro planned to visit the country at the tail end of the year before she makes a report to the ASEAN leaders during a summit in Manila by November. (Also read: ASEAN ministers set November deadline on Myanmar proposals)
Last month during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), Lazaro said the visit will be a humanitarian mission with various foreign humanitarian organizations in attendance.
“In this regard, we look forward to the Special Envoy being granted access to visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as part of the Special Envoy’s mandate under the Five-Point Consensus,” the statement read.
“We reaffirm our continued commitment to assisting Myanmar, as an integral part of ASEAN, towards a peaceful and durable solution to the situation in Myanmar that is Myanmar-owned and -led.”
It has been five years since Myanmar plunged into a political crisis after the Military Junta seized power, which led to a civil war.
The regional bloc had attempted to support negotiations towards a peace deal.
In July, two informal meetings were held in Thailand ahead of the AMM, where the ministers discussed ways forward towards dealing with Myanmar.
Myanmar’s leader Min Au Hlaing will visit Thailand this month for a diplomatic engagement.