PHNOM PENH: The Prime Minister of Cambodia and the chair of ASEAN in 2022, PM Hun Sen has said that leaving Myanmar out of ASEAN not only undermines the ASEAN Charter, which undermines the spirit of ASEAN, it is also pushing Myanmar away on the path of integration and unity, as the country’s internal conflict intensifies.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Customs and Excise Building on the morning of 23 December 2021, PM Hun Sen has reacted strongly to those who criticized PM's visit to Myanmar in early January as a young politician, he was unaware of the possible situation in the future and advised them to look at the relationship between their country and Myanmar, rather than just criticizing him on the visit. All of them include former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and a Malaysian lawmaker.

PM said: "Before you ask me and point at my face, you have to ask yourself, what did you do that you dare cutting off the ambassador from Myanmar, but there is no country in the world which can detach ambassador from Myanmar! Why Hun Sen cannot go to Myanmar? I have an embassy there and Myanmar has an embassy in Phnom Penh, so my trip to Myanmar is not wrong with normal diplomatic ties and is also part of the ASEAN partnership."

As the chair of ASEAN in 2022, PM Hun Sen also stated that as long as ASEAN has only nine countries, it means "ASEAN is not complete" and ASEAN has failed and will bring Myanmar into more turmoil.

PM has stated that when he visits Myanmar, he would represent himself, both as the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the President of ASEAN and use special aircraft to fly with the Cambodian flag. He has warned some Myanmar citizens who expressed dissatisfaction with the planned visit.

PM Hun Sen: "Those who oppose me are Burmese people. I understand your sentiments. But I assure you will later benefit from the unification and restoration of peace, as well as the democratic process in Myanmar."

According to the plan, PM Hun Sen will lead a Cambodian delegation to visit Myanmar on 7-8 January 2022 to help find a solution and pave the way for ASEAN to implement the 5 points of the ASEAN Consensus Agreement for Myanmar.

ASEAN's five-point unanimous agreement on Myanmar calls for an end to the violence, the establishment of a multilateral dialogue, the coordination of ASEAN special envoys, the provision of humanitarian assistance and the granting of special envoys to visit Myanmar.

The crisis in Myanmar stems from the military coup that took place on 1 February 2021, the arrest of State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myin and other ruling party officials by the Myanmar Armed Forces. Not recognizing the results of the November 2020 election and handing over the leadership of the country to the Commander-in-Chief of the National Army, Min Ung Lang.

The coup has angered the people of Myanmar, who have staged a series of protests, while ASEAN has recently decided not to include Myanmar at its summit.