Malaysia Welcomes Myanmar’s Military Ruler Amid Hopes for International Recognition

Five years after a military coup pushed Myanmar into civil war, President Min Aung Hlaing met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday, seeking greater international recognition.

Min Aung Hlaing has recently visited Russia, China, India, Belarus, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. Talks between the two countries focused mainly on repatriation and investment. Myanmar is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, with a ruling expected in the coming months.

Although Min Aung Hlaing has visited five member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as president, the ban preventing him from attending ASEAN summits remains in place.

Conflict-monitoring organisation ACLED has identified Myanmar as one of the world’s most dangerous places, with only the Palestinian territories ranking higher in terms of conflict intensity. Last week, a military airstrike hit a market in western Myanmar, killing at least 50 people.

Min Aung Hlaing became president in April after stepping down as military chief and following a widely criticised election in which the military-backed party faced virtually no competition. Military attacks on civilians continue. Mr. Anwar said, “We have maintained excellent relations for a long time.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Anwar has pursued large-scale repatriation efforts amid growing hostility towards migrants. In Rakhine State, much of which is controlled by rebel forces, fears of forced military recruitment have driven young people to flee Myanmar. At least one million young people have left the country since the coup over concerns about conscription into the military.

Armed rebel groups control more than half of Myanmar’s territory. Meanwhile, the military is forcibly recruiting men aged up to 35 and women aged up to 27. Min Nyan Tun, a 34-year-old Myanmar national, said Malaysia had deported him three times.

“If I have to choose between being arrested again in Malaysia and being sent to the front line of the war, I would choose returning to Malaysia. I cannot go to the front line and give my life for the military government,” he said. Around 215,000 Myanmar refugees and asylum seekers are registered with the United Nations refugee agency in Malaysia. They include Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution.

Min Aung Hlaing has said Myanmar will only take back people whose citizenship has been verified. His government does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens. The visit ended with a state luncheon featuring lamb, large prawns and cheese and passion fruit pudding. The lavish meal stood in stark contrast to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where one in three people lacks sufficient food, according to the United Nations.

Sources: Reuters, IIMM.