Myanmar’s junta will be excluded from regional summit

Myanmar’s military junta will not participate in a regional summit later this month, the latest sign of its struggle to achieve international legitimacy following a coup earlier this year.  

In lieu of the military government, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc referred to as ASEAN, announced on Saturday that it will have a “nonpolitical representative” from the country attend its Oct. 26-28 summit, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This decision marked a departure from the bloc’s typical policy of noninterference. 

Myanmar has been in a political crisis since the military overthrew its elected government in February, imprisoning opponents and cracking down on protests. Human rights groups estimate that the violence in the country has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths, the Journal noted.

ASEAN said its decision was based on Myanmar’s inadequate progress in implementing a previous peace pact, as well as the ousted government’s claim to the seat in question, the Journal reported.

This issue comes amid Myanmar’s larger problem of determining who will represent the country globally. 

Last month, the United Nations announced that Myanmar would not have a representative speak at the General Assembly. This decision came as the junta also attempts to replace its current U.N. representative, who was appointed by the ousted government.

While U.N. member countries are unlikely to approve the military’s selection, no official decision will be made on that matter until the U.N.’s credentials committee meets later this year.