Southeast Asian leaders reach consensus on Myanmar

Southeast Asian leaders said Saturday that they have reached an agreement to end violence in Myanmar after meeting with the military junta chief. Myanmar Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in the Feb. 1 coup, attended the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Saturday. ASEAN leaders pressured Hlaing to end violence, Anadolu Agency reported. Bruneian Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah presided as chairman over the meeting, also attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the prime ministers of Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Cambodia, and foreign ministers of Thailand, the Philippines and Laos. Bolkiah said in a statement Saturday the member countries have reached a Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar crisis.

The first point of consensus was there should be "an immediate cessation of violence," and "utmost restraint," among all parties. The second was that constructive dialogue should commence. Third, the ASEAN chair special envoy should facilitate the dialogue and mediation. Fourth, ASEAN should provide humanitarian assistance through its coordinating center for such relief. And fifth, the special envoy and delegation should visit Myanmar to meet with all concerned parties. "We, as an ASEAN family, had a close discussion on the recent developments in Myanmar and expressed our deep concern on the situation in the country, including reports of fatalities and escalation of violence," Bolkiah said. "We acknowledged ASEAN's positive and constructive role in facilitating a peaceful solution in the interest of the people of Myanmar and their livelihoods. "We also heard calls for the release of political prisoners including foreigners," he added.

The military has arrested over 3,300 protestors as political prisoners and killed 745 people since the start of the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners' latest count. "The situation in Myanmar is something that is unacceptable and must not continue," Joko said in a video statement after the meeting, The New York Times reported. "Violence must be stopped, and democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be restored."

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/04/24/Myanmar-southeast-asian-leaders-agreement-end-violence/8531619288356/

Maryland AG: Work of ex-medical examiner who testified in Chauvin trial should be reviewed

Maryland's attorney general office said there should be a review of the work of a former medical examiner who testified for the defense in the Derek Chauvin trial this week in Minneapolis. The trial ended Tuesday with a Minnesota jury finding Chauvin, 45, guilty of second-and third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the murder of George Floyd, 46. Chauvin is slated to be sentenced June 16, a Minnesota court said Friday, and Chauvin's attorneys will have 60 days to appeal, NBC News reported. Prosecution experts said the Black security guard and community leader in Minneapolis, who was unarmed, died of lack of oxygen as Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for more than 9 minutes during a Memorial Day arrest over the alleged use of counterfeit $20 bill. A teenager captured footage of the scene that went viral and set off protests against police brutality and systemic racism across the country and worldwide.

Dr. David Fowler, a chief medical examiner of Maryland from 2002-2019, testified during the trial that Floyd's heart disease combined with fentanyl and methamphetamine use, exposure to vehicle exhaust and tumors near his carotid artery all played a part in his death. He classified the killing as "undetermined." The Maryland Attorney General's Office received a letter from former medical examiner of Washington, D.C., Roger A. Mitchell, signed by 431 doctors across the country, who said Fowler's testimony was so outlandish it called all of his prior work into question, The Baltimore Sun reported. "Dr. Fowler's stated opinion that George Floyd's death during active police restraint should be certified with an 'undetermined' manner is outside the standard practice and conventions for investigating and certification of in-custody deaths," the letter obtained by The Baltimore Sun said. "This stated opinion raises significant concerns for his previous practice and management." On Friday, less than 24 hours after receiving the letter, the Maryland attorney general's office said Fowler's "in custody" death reports should be reviewed. Fowler defended himself in a statement to The New York Times. "I stand behind the outstanding work that all our dedicated staff at the Maryland State Medical Examiner's Office performed during my tenure as Chief ME," the statement said.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/04/24/derek-chauvin-maryland-defense-medical-examiner-work-review/8911619270566/

In-custody death reports under former Maryland medical examiner to be reviewed after he testified Chauvin did not kill George Floyd

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ag-office-review-20210423-l2oamj3ixnhwznd4545f7pjcau-story.html