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Myanmar crisis is Asean’s Sisyphean burden

The stalemate is frustrating. But what can Asean really do but press on?

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Asean has maintained a stance of only inviting non-political representatives from Myanmar to meetings.

Asean has maintained a stance of inviting only non-political representatives from Myanmar to meetings.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Tan See Seng

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In Greek mythology, Sisyphus, the founder and king of Ephyra, is consigned to unending punishment in the underworld by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down every time he neared the top.  

This tale came to mind as I read news of the hitherto

futile efforts by Asean

to bring an end to the violence in military-ruled Myanmar.  

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