Thailand to hold talks with Myanmar to find a way out for post-coup crisis

Thailand will hold a meeting with Myanmar to find a way out of the post-coup crisis in the country. The Thai Foreign Ministry said it will host ‘informal talks’ with Myanmar’s military government and its neighbouring countries to resolve the situation in Myanmar peacefully. The meeting, earlier scheduled to start on Sunday, will now begin from Monday, 19th June. The Thai Foreign Ministry statement said ‘although not being held within the ASEAN framework, the meeting is aimed at supporting ASEAN efforts to resolve the situation in Myanmar.’

The Thai government said representatives from Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, China, and Brunei are expected to attend without giving further details. Myanmar has also confirmed its participation in the meeting.

However, some members of the ASEAN grouping have declined to participate. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan currently on a visit to the US said ‘it would be premature to reengage with the junta at a summit level or even at a foreign minister level’. Earlier, the Five point consensus (5PC) worked out by ASEAN leaders in April 2021 failed to move forward as the Myanmar government has not allowed ASEAN special envoy to meet all stakeholders in the country including the jailed former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Malaysia and Indonesia have also declined to take part in the meeting convened by Thailand. The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar, consisting mainly of the parliamentarians from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy have disapproved of the meeting called by Thailand.