First, do not assist: Myanmar’s test to ASEAN’s survival and the cost of “ASEAN Centrality”

Since the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s civilian population has been the target of probable crimes against humanity and war crimes. The junta-led government is carrying out an escalating, systematic campaign of violence and oppression aimed at suppressing widespread opposition to its rule and eliminating a growing armed resistance movement. This campaign is marred by indiscriminate attacks targeting civilians, including mass arson, bombing of essential civilian infrastructure like schools, hospitals and IDP camps, arbitrary detention of suspected opposition sympathisers and proxies, and extensive use of torture and sexual assault during detention among others.