18-6-2023 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s caretaker government hosted the foreign minister of Myanmar’s ruling junta at informal regional peace talks on Sunday. However, several key Southeast Asian counterparts chose to stay away from the meeting, drawing sharp criticism.
So far, only Cambodia has officially confirmed its attendance at the planned talks. Myanmar’s generals have been excluded from senior-level meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for nearly two years due to their failure to honor an agreement to engage in talks with opponents associated with the ousted civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently imprisoned.
Thailand, whose prime minister came to power through a military coup, invited Myanmar’s junta-appointed Foreign Minister Than Swe, along with other foreign ministers from the 10-member ASEAN bloc, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.
Myanmar’s junta spokesman could not be reached for comment on Sunday. Thailand’s foreign ministry remained tight-lipped about the hastily arranged two-day gathering in the resort town of Pattaya. Outgoing Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai sent invitation letters just four days before the planned start of the talks.
Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Natapanu Nopakun stated on Sunday morning that he had “no information” regarding the meeting.
Myanmar has been engulfed in violence since the military coup on February 1, 2021, with the junta fighting to suppress an armed pro-democracy resistance movement that emerged in response to the crackdown. The junta claims to be combating terrorists aiming to destabilize the country.
Critics of Thailand’s initiative argue that it risks legitimizing Myanmar’s military government and is inappropriate as it falls outside the official ASEAN peace initiative known as the “five-point consensus.” Others question why Thailand called for the talks now, considering that a new government is expected to take office in August following the pro-military coalition’s defeat in the May 16 elections by progressive and populist parties.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn confirmed his attendance at the meeting, as stated in a government statement on Friday. However, other ASEAN members declined Thailand’s invitation. This includes Indonesia, this year’s chair, as well as Singapore whose foreign minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, commented on Friday that “it would be premature to re-engage with the junta at a summit level or even at a foreign minister level.”
Vietnam’s government announced that its foreign minister would not attend due to a prior engagement. Two sources with knowledge of the matter confirmed that Malaysia also declined to participate. The Philippines, which had not responded to questions by Sunday morning, is seen as firmly in favor of isolating Myanmar’s generals.
Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government, composed of loyalists to Aung San Suu Kyi’s ousted administration, condemned Thailand’s initiative. In a statement released on Saturday, the group stated, “Inviting the illegitimate junta to this discussion will not contribute to the resolution of Myanmar’s political crisis.”
Furthermore, 81 Myanmar activist groups released an open letter on Sunday, condemning the “secretive initiative” and stating that it contradicts ASEAN’s policy of not inviting junta officials to high-level meetings. The letter demanded that Thailand’s caretaker government immediately cancel the meeting.
