Brunei, the current chair of the 10-nation Asean bloc, released a statement after the meeting expressing concern over the situation in Myanmar, calling on parties to refrain from “instigating” further violence and to seek reconciliation through dialogue.

“In this regard, we expressed Asean’s readiness to assist Myanmar in a positive, peaceful and constructive manner,” the statement said.

There were also responses from individual member states. Malaysia made public Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s prepared remarks. He echoed public remarks made before the meeting by Singaporeans officials that talks between the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar’s military is known, and Suu Kyi’s camp were the best chance of resolving the crisis.

“We urge Myanmar to consider returning to the negotiating table to remedy the political crisis and avoid further escalation of tensions, which may invite intrusive foreign interventions in the Asean region,” Hishammuddin said.

He offered three proposals for Asean and Myanmar to consider: the setting up of a group of “eminent persons” to oversee electoral matters that are at the centre of the military’s dispute with Suu Kyi; a visit to Myanmar by Asean secretary general Lim Jock Hoi and Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (the current Asean chair) and the establishment of an “Asean Troika” for engagement between Asean, Myanmar and outside powers.

Comments by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan were equally biting, in keeping with the republic’s toughened position on the crisis in recent days.

“Singapore calls on the Myanmar military authorities to publicly commit, in words and in deeds today, to exercise utmost restraint, and to desist from the use of lethal force, and to steadfastly ensure that there is no further violence and bloodshed,” Balakrishnan told the meeting, according to an official transcript.

He said the crisis could not have come at a worse time, with the Covid-19 pandemic still raging globally. Foreign investors including from Singapore – the biggest source of foreign direct investment in Myanmar – were re-evaluating their businesses in the country, Balakrishnan said.

“We just want the best for you and your people. This can only be achieved if you have honest, frank dialogue among yourselves in Myanmar. The rest of us cannot do this for you. We can be helpful, we can be constructive, but you need to do this yourself.”

He resisted suggestions that foreign nations may need to directly intervene.

“We have to express disapproval for what is done, which is against the values of many other countries, and in fact a large part of humanity,” Lee said, according to a transcript of the interview released by his government.

Retno said the principle of non-interference was a “must” and that “no single Asean country has intentions to violate this principle”. But at the same time, “upholding and implementing values of democracy, respect of human rights, good governance, rule of law and constitutional government are equally important,” she said.

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Some commentators – including demonstrators who have taken to social media in search of international support – have said Asean should consider punitive measures against Myanmar to pressure the military into restoring democratic rule. But the bloc is governed by central principles of non-interference in member states’ internal affairs and acting through consensus rather than by the view of the majority in the grouping.

Observers have said another major reason Asean might be reluctant to interfere is that several of its member states are themselves run in autocratic fashion. Brunei, the current chair of the bloc, is an absolute monarchy, Vietnam and Laos are ruled by one-party communist states, Cambodia is governed by strongman Hun Sen and Thailand is currently governed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s military-backed regime.

Deepak Nair, an assistant professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said Asean had throughout its history and by diplomatic design tended to choose “order over justice”.

While several member states have sharpened their condemnation of the Tatmadaw’s violence in recent days, the researcher pointed out that the countries also emphasised in their statements that their core goal was to work towards the return of political stability and reconciliation among stakeholders, including the military.

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Myanmar police kill at least 18 in deadliest anti-coup protests yet, UN Human Rights Office says

Myanmar police kill at least 18 in deadliest anti-coup protests yet, UN Human Rights Office says

“I wouldn’t read too much into these statements as heralding something new for Asean diplomacy,” said Nair, a scholar of geopolitics in Southeast Asia. “In fact, it seems like a return to the pre-2010 era where Asean’s diplomacy over the Myanmar problem revolved around the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the call for political dialogue and reconciliation, and occasional sharp rebukes.”

Lee, asked by the BBC what he thought the “end game” for the Tatmadaw would be, said he hoped good sense would prevail.

He pointed out that Myanmar had experienced riots that killed thousands in 1988, with further violent demonstrations in 2007, three years before the-then ruling junta shocked the world by setting the stage for democratic reforms.

The NLD and Suu Kyi subsequently won 2015’s election by a landslide and scored another decisive victory last November. The Tatmadaw seized power and declared a year-long emergency citing irregularities in last year’s polls.

Said Lee: “I hope that wisdom will prevail, as it did the last time, and the Tatmadaw will conclude that to go the military route does not lead anywhere, and that they have to work out an arrangement with the civilian government, which has been democratically elected.”

The diplomatic activity surrounding Myanmar has also given rise to questions over the recognition of the Tatmadaw as the Southeast Asian country’s official government.

The UN said on Monday it had not received any communication regarding the change of government and that it continued to recognise the NLD-appointed ambassador to the world body, Kyaw Moe Tun. Military-controlled state television had announced he was fired after making an emotional plea on Friday for the international community to take the “strongest possible action” to end the junta’s rule.

Thomas-Greenfield echoed this position.

“We have not seen any official evidence or request that he be removed, and for the time being he is the representative of the Myanmar government,” she said.

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A group representing elected lawmakers ousted by the coup, the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, said before the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting it considered the state administration council formed following the coup to be a “terrorist group” on account of the “atrocities and acts of terrorism” that had taken place in recent weeks. The group also said it had appointed four representatives to serve as “acting union ministers”.

Eighteen people were killed and 30 wounded in clashes with security forces on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 21, according to Reuters.