(Reuters] – Myanmar’s military government has said that they have rejected a Southeast Asian counterparts decision to allow only a nonpolitical person to attend a regional summit. It was doing so in a rebuke to the leader behind the coup on February 1.

In a statement, the foreign ministry of the junta stated that all heads of government and state in Myanmar had equal rights to attend summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (10 (ASEAN)).

Next summit will be held Oct 26-28. The next summit will be held in October 26-28. It’s not known who or if anyone will represent Myanmar.

In a release, the foreign ministry stated that Myanmar will not agree to any outcomes of discussions or decisions “that are…contrary the provisions and objectives of the ASEAN Charter.”

According to United Nations estimates, more than 1000 civilians were killed and many others were arrested by Myanmar security forces. This was in the context of a crackdown against strikes and protests that has destabilized Myanmar’s tentative democracy, and led to international condemnation.

Myanmar’s military junta claimed that the death tolls were exaggerated.

International pressure had been mounting on ASEAN for a harder line against Myanmar’s failure to take agreed steps to end violence, allow humanitarian access and start dialogue with its opponents, in line with an ASEAN “consensus” reached in April.

Last Friday’s emergency meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers saw an extraordinary step by the bloc that is consensus driven. This was a departure from its tradition which favors engagement over non-interference.

Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that ministers were split between sticking to a tradition and not interfering but also needing to maintain credibility by sanctioning Min Aung Hlaing as he has been leading the crackdown against dissent in Myanmar since seizing control from the civilian government.

After the meeting, the junta stated that ASEAN’s decision was against long-standing principles.