24 April 2026 By Ko Myo
YANGON, Myanmar — A prominent human rights network has issued a stinging rebuke of ASEAN’S failed diplomatic efforts in Myanmar, calling on the regional bloc to shift its support toward pro-democracy movements as the “Five-Point Consensus” reaches its fifth anniversary with no tangible results.
In a briefing paper titled “Human Rights-Based Reform: Reviewing ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus Five Years On,” the Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma) argued on Friday that the bloc must face the “grim reality” that the military junta has never intended to follow the peace plan.
The Five-Point Consensus was signed on 24 April 2021, in the presence of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. It called for an immediate end to violence, inclusive political dialogue, and unhindered humanitarian access.
“To put it simply, the Five-Point Consensus died the day after it was born,” a Yangon-based political analyst told MPA. “Min Aung Hlaing signed it on the evening of April 24, 2021, and by the next morning, he was back to orchestrating extreme violence that continues to this day.”
ND-Burma’s report highlights that international inaction has emboldened the military to continue committing war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity. The group is now demanding that ASEAN pivot to a new strategy that prioritises accountability under international law and grants no legitimacy to the military regime.
“The lack of a sufficient international response has created a cycle of impunity,” the report stated. “ASEAN must now listen to the needs of democratic activists and ensure genuine political participation that protects the people.”
A central pillar of the proposed new approach is the delivery of humanitarian aid. ND-Burma urged ASEAN to bypass junta-controlled channels, which are frequently used to weaponize aid, and instead work with local civil society organisations to provide cross-border assistance to those most in need.
The network also called on ASEAN to join international partners in exerting maximum pressure to stop the junta’s attacks on civilians.
As the regional bloc prepares for upcoming summits, the message from Myanmar’s civil society is clear: diplomacy that includes the perpetrators of violence is no longer viable. For the people of Myanmar, five years of “consensus” has translated only into five years of escalating conflict, hyperinflation, and the loss of countless lives.
