Myanmar Junta Slams ASEAN for Refusing to Recognize Its New Government
May 11, 2026 | Burma Independent Voice
The military junta’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal critique of ASEAN for refusing to recognize its newly formed government, which is led by the coup leader and established through a widely discredited electoral process following the detention of democratically elected civilian leaders.
In a statement, the junta’s foreign ministry alleged that despite the emergence of a “new government” via elections, certain ASEAN member states continue to “discriminate” against and exert pressure on Myanmar. The ministry claimed these actions violate the ASEAN Charter and constitute interference in the country’s internal affairs.
The military-orchestrated elections, which the international community and ASEAN have largely refused to recognize, were not held nationwide. Furthermore, the process barred numerous political parties from participating, including the party that won landslide victories in both the 2015 and 2020 elections with massive public support, while keeping legitimate national leaders behind bars.
Despite this lack of legitimacy, the junta’s statement asserted that out of more than 24 million eligible voters, over 13 million cast ballots “of their own volition.” The ministry claimed this resulted in a “people’s choice” parliament and a new administration led by the president.
The statement further alleged that the 2020 ruling government committed over 11 million instances of electoral fraud. However, independent domestic and international monitoring organizations that observed the 2020 polls have consistently reported that the results accurately represented the will of the majority of voters.
Following the 2021 coup, ASEAN member states established the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) during a meeting attended by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing. Due to the military’s persistent failure to implement the agreement, the bloc has continued to bar the junta from political representation at high-level ASEAN summits.
Even after forming a government led by the coup leader himself through controlled elections, the regime remains without representation at the United Nations and continues to face exclusion from political participation within ASEAN.
The junta characterized this continued exclusion as “discrimination,” despite having failed to fulfill the Five-Point Consensus for over five years and continuing its campaign of violence against civilians.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), at least 8,028 democracy activists and civilians have been confirmed killed by the junta and its affiliates from the time of the 2021 coup until May 8, 2026. Additionally, at least 22,720 individuals remain under detention.
