Philippines Foreign Secretary Leads Humanitarian Mission to Myanmar

Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday to lead a humanitarian mission and oversee the distribution of aid, according to a statement from the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit is occurring as Myanmar’s military-backed government attempts to mend strained relations with neighboring countries and the international community.

Lazaro is serving as Special Envoy on Myanmar for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc that Myanmar is part of. However, Myanmar has faced rebukes from ASEAN since its army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, leading to a civil war that has displaced millions.

The mission, which is expected to continue through November, will distribute 50-kilogram bags of rice, personal hygiene kits, and other essential items to over 11,000 households across Myanmar's Kayin State, Southern Shan State, and Northern Shan State.

Lazaro's visit coincides with efforts by Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing to enhance the image of his government and gain political legitimacy abroad. While China and Russia have aligned with Myanmar since the 2021 takeover, Western nations have largely treated the country as a pariah state, imposing sanctions on its leaders.

Min Aung Hlaing has faced isolation and was previously barred from ASEAN summit meetings for failing to adhere to the bloc's April 2021 peace plan. This plan called for an end to violence, dialogue among parties, mediation, humanitarian aid, and access to stakeholders. ASEAN is scheduled to hold its annual summit in mid-November in Manila, the Philippines' capital.

Following elections in December and January, Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president in April. Critics have described these elections as a sham aimed at consolidating military power under the guise of restoring civilian rule. His diplomatic outreach has included visits to Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

Efforts have also been made to address concerns regarding Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the 2021 coup and is serving an 18-year prison sentence on charges her supporters and human rights groups deem baseless. On Thursday, she had her first telephone conversation in over five years with her son, Kim Aris. The government also reported delivering two books from Britain's King Charles III and diplomatic correspondence to Suu Kyi earlier in the week.

In April, Suu Kyi was transferred from prison in Naypyitaw to house arrest at an undisclosed location. In August, a representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross visited her, marking her initial contact with an independent international humanitarian organization since her detention.