The ruling military junta in Myanmar and the country’s main opposition group, the National Unity Government (NUG), have agreed to extend the ceasefire that was initially declared on April 2. This ceasefire was announced to facilitate rescue operations and ensure the delivery of relief supplies following a devastating earthquake.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), shared the development during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. He stated that he held separate meetings with Myanmar’s junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing and representatives of the NUG in Bangkok, where both parties expressed their support for extending the ceasefire.
Anwar Ibrahim said, “My meetings with both the government and opposition representatives were very successful. Both sides have agreed to extend the ceasefire. We hope this will prevent any unnecessary provocations in Myanmar, as such actions would hinder all humanitarian efforts.”
Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil conflict since the military overthrew the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) on February 1, 2021. The coup sparked mass protests, which were met with violent crackdowns by the military, eventually leading to the rise of armed resistance groups across the country.
Despite multiple mediation efforts by China, no resolution had been achieved. However, the recent twin earthquakes on March 28—measuring 7.7 and 6.7 magnitude—killed over 36,000 people and left the country in ruins. In response, the junta declared a 20-day ceasefire starting April 2 to enable relief operations.
Anwar emphasized ASEAN’s role in Myanmar’s peace process, saying, “We believe ASEAN should remain involved in all aspects of Myanmar’s situation. However, we must ensure that this involvement is not exploited by the military government to legitimize its rule.”