[AMM] A shed of resolution: The need for foreign intervention amidst aworsening humanitarian crisis
- DVB Myanmar
- Jun 17, 2025
- 3 min read
For the Myanmar Civil War, foreign intervention is the clear way forward. Yet,
Delegates in the AMM express great revulsion towards concrete intervention. Why?
Peace dies in silence
Throughout the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, delegates have been emphasising
on following the ASEAN charter and pursuing a non-interventionist policy — but this frankly falls short given the state of the status quo.
It is hence hypocritical that when the Myanmar delegation is asked about the
human rights issues, the delegate states that they take all accountability, but still
campaign for a non-interventionist solution and an internally facilitated solution.
One must recognise that the authoritarian regime in Myanmar, causing such severe
damage to Burmese citizens, is not something that the junta itself will
willingly solve. They are, after all, the perpetrators behind this exploitation and
have been uncooperative in the face of diplomacy.
The Delegate of Myanmar has repeatedly played around the rules, making a
mockery of both ASEAN and UN committees, emphasising their policy of
non-intervention. This not only ignores the humanitarian crisis but also destroys the entire purpose of the non-interventionist laws, ensuring regional stability.
The junta, to this very day, continues to wreak havoc on the civilian population while the international community merely watches on. As seen in the discussions of the AMM, ASEAN’s jurisdiction and criticism serve to be useless due to the bent legislation and the uncooperative junta.
Peace dies in darkness
The solutions suggested by delegates range from political diplomacy to a code of
conduct for countries, but all seem to agree on the fact that military intervention is
a last resort. However, with the uncooperative nature of the junta and the
worsening humanitarian crisis, frankly, the only option to even achieve regional
Stability is unironically military intervention.
Thus, the onus has to fall upon other members of both ASEAN and the UN to act as
third-party facilitators of necessary punishments and achieve an everlasting peace in Myanmar’s regional conflict.
There is no doubt that the ASEAN charter exists for a reason — to ensure regional
stability and maintain sovereignty. However, the internal conflict of Myanmar has reached such a catastrophic extent that it simply cannot be ignored anymore.
This violation of an established policy is warranted due to two structural reasons.
The first is that the junta’s use of unchecked force against civilians is a violation of
international law and human rights. Simply put, innocents are unreasonably jailed
and harmed every single day, and there is no hiding the fact that this humanitarian
crisis is beyond ignorance now.
The second reason is that the positive impacts of military intervention far outweigh
the possible harms. The repressive regime in Myanmar can be finally brought down,
which would grant citizens the peace they rightfully deserve.
Peace must be fought for
The Burmese population is tired of being manipulated and exploited by the military
government. This exploitation will only worsen in the case of non-interventionist
policies that entrench the already disenfranchised population. These policies serve
not only to further disempowerment, but also involuntarily back the junta’s regime by turning a blind eye to it.
Many third parties, such as the EU and the US have large budgets and are eager
advocates of democracy. Thus, it is preposterous that these third parties continue
to watch on as the undemocratic practices of the Burmese junta are left unchecked.
In the end, it is clear that the extent of crisis in Myanmar calls for a non-peaceful
intervention, as it seems that only force appeals to the Burmese junta.
As debate progresses, the people of Myanmar live with bated breath, awaiting the
AMM to make the right decision.
Written by Aaron Tan Rui Ze, Tham Harkman, and Chen Chak Kai
Bibliography
Molthof, Mieke. 2012. “ASEAN and the Principle of Non-Interference.”
E-International Relations. February 13, 2012.
The Straits Times Editorial Team. “ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting to Discuss
Myanmar 5-Point Consensus Issue.” The Straits Times, May 7, 2022.
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