Myanmar shadow government calls on ASEAN not to recognize coup regime

Myanmar's newly-formed shadow government has called on Southeast Asian leaders not to recognize the military regime that seized power in a February coup. 

Moe Zaw Oo, deputy minister of foreign affairs for the parallel "national unity government (NUG)" on Sunday appealed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to not legitimize the Myanmar Military junta by inviting its military chief to attend an upcoming regional summit.

Moe also called on the regional alliance to give the Myanmar’s parallel administration, which was formed Friday by ousted lawmakers mostly from deposing Aung San Suu Kyi ‘s party, a seat at the table during crisis talks next week.

 "If ASEAN wants to help solve the Myanmar situation, they are not going to achieve anything without consulting and negotiating with the NUG, which is supported by the people and has full legitimacy," he said. "It's important that this military council is not recognized. This needs to be handled carefully."

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said in a statement on Saturday that Myanmar's military chieft Min Aung Hlaing will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia on April 24. 

Min Aung Hlaing's invitation to the meeting of the 10-country organization has drawn scorn from activists who have urged regional leaders not to formally recognize the junta. 

It will be Min Aung Hlaing’s first official trip since he took power in a coup by deposing Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.

The junta has ever since been engaged in a brutal crackdown that has led to killing of nearly 730 people who were calling for the release of Suu Kyi and the restoration of her civil government.

The military government has so far detained more than 3,140 people in connection with the coup, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Suu Kyi, who is among the detainees, faces various charges, including violating an official secret act that could see her imprisoned for 14 years. Her lawyer has rejected the charges against her.

Unrest continued across the country on Sunday, with protesters rallying in Mandalay, Meiktila, Magway and Myingyan, showing support for the national unity government. 

At Palaw in the country's south, demonstrators chanted slogans and brandished banners that read: "Military dictators should not be allowed to rule. The dictatorship will be uprooted. Support the national unity government." 

Young demonstrators also staged motorbike rallies while carrying flags in Hpakant and Sagaing.

Much of Myanmar remains under a curfew imposed shortly after the coup, running from 8 pm to 4 am every night. 

Late Saturday, a young man was shot and killed in Kyaukme town in northern Shan state while riding his motorbike during the curfew.

"He was shot by the authorities when he and other his friends drove motorbikes around 9 pm. He was shot in the head," AFP quoted a rescue worker as saying. 

The United Nations human rights office warned on April 13 that the clampdown risked escalating into a civil conflict.

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