KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar has called for an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar.
The call comes ahead of the Southeast Asian leaders gathering in Jakarta for an emergency Asean Summit on Myanmar this weekend.
Its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the safety and protection of the civilian population in Myanmar must be a top priority at the Summit.
In a statement today, he said Asean must make it clear that state failure is a serious threat to regional stability and the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's military, must assume responsibility and work with Asean to resolve the crisis.
They must also prevent the crisis from deepening further.
He said Asean must make it clear that it is not conferring legitimacy to the Tatmadaw's State Administration Council but is engaging them to find a solution to the crisis.
Syed Hamid said among other considerations is for Asean to consider calling for a Humanitarian Pause to be implemented in Myanmar, along with an Asean Emergency Response Assessment Team (ERAT) to be deployed to conduct a rapid needs assessment in affected areas.
"This will allow humanitarian assistance to be provided through the United Nations (UN), the Red Cross and humanitarian non-governmental organisations, including the deployment of civilian monitors from Asean countries to ensure aid is delivered impartially to those in need.
"Asean should engage the UN and wider international community, including the region's private sector, in a plan for stabilisation, humanitarian and development assistance, and economic recovery in Myanmar.
"The protection of civilians and restoration of essential services must be of utmost primacy in these plans."
Syed Hamid, who is also the former OIC special envoy to Myanmar, said Asean leaders should offer mediation through an Asean Special Envoy, a high-level figure from an Asean Member State to bring the parties to the negotiating table and forge a roadmap to resolve the crisis.
"Asean Member States should agree to offer refuge and protection to all those fleeing Myanmar and any refugee problems should be coordinated by the Asean Secretariat, as a shared burden among member states and as a temporary measure until the crisis is over."
Syed Hamid said Asean countries and other affected countries such as China and India should work together to prevent the rise of transnational criminal networks.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), an activist group, reported that a total 739 people have been killed in violent crackdowns since the military coup on Feb 1, with 3,331 people in detention, while 1,059 have been issued arrest warrants.