ASEAN chair Cambodia has called the timing of the Myanmar junta’s execution of four activists “highly reprehensible” and said it has presented a gross lack of will to support the bloc’s peace efforts in the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, dated July 25, Cambodia, which heads the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, said it was extremely saddened and deeply troubled by the executions.

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It said the executions were a setback, just a week ahead of an ASEAN ministerial meeting.