12 May 2026 By Ko Myo/MPA
Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) has issued a stern call to ASEAN, the United Nations, and the broader international community to withhold any form of political recognition from the military junta, accusing the generals of seeking legitimacy without accountability.
In a recently released statement, the NUG—the administration representing the ousted civilian government—asserted that Myanmar’s deep-seated political crisis cannot be resolved through “fabricated narratives” or “coerced sham elections.” Instead, it argued that a sustainable solution can only be achieved through an inclusive political transition rooted in justice, democracy, and the ultimate sovereignty of the people.
The NUG’s declaration comes as a direct rebuttal to a recent statement by the military council, which criticized ASEAN and international actors for excluding them from regional engagements. The junta had claimed that such exclusion ignored election results and interfered in domestic affairs.
The NUG condemned the junta’s rhetoric as “highly inconsistent and politically dishonest.”
“Min Aung Hlaing continues to use his most proficient tactic: violent aggression,” a Yangon-based political analyst told MPA. “He is failing to implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, yet he is aggressively demanding a seat at the ASEAN Summit table.”
The NUG highlighted the hypocrisy of the military leadership, noting that the same generals now calling for the respect of election results are those who annulled the 2020 general election victory of the civilian leaders. The shadow government pointed out that as long as elected leaders remain detained, political parties face suppression, the media is silenced, and civilians are targeted with systematic violence, the junta’s claim of “protecting democracy” remains entirely void of credibility.
According to the NUG, ASEAN’s current firm stance is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of the military’s total failure to adhere to the Five-Point Consensus, its refusal to engage in inclusive dialogue, and its persistent use of lethal force against its own citizens.
The NUG concluded by urging ASEAN and the international community to remain steadfast in supporting the aspirations of the Myanmar people for a future federal democratic transition.
This diplomatic friction follows the recent ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, where the military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, was once again barred from attending. Following the snub, the military council issued a statement on May 10, accusing certain ASEAN member states of violating the ASEAN Charter and interfering in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
Editor: ML
