27-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to step up its efforts in addressing the ongoing crisis in military-ruled Myanmar. The plea comes in the wake of intensified clashes near the Thai-Myanmar border, disrupting trade and triggering a brief surge in refugee movements.
Myanmar finds itself entrenched in a civil war pitting the military against a coalition comprising ethnic minority armed groups and a resistance movement born in the aftermath of the junta’s brutal crackdown following the 2021 coup.
ASEAN had formulated a peace blueprint in 2021, which Myanmar’s military leaders had consented to. However, the implementation has been sluggish, causing divisions within the bloc and prompting dissatisfaction among its prominent members.
Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura expressed the need for a more proactive stance from ASEAN, stating, “We would like to see a more proactive ASEAN.” He disclosed discussions with Laos, the current ASEAN chair, and Myanmar regarding the escalating situation.
The recent capture of the strategic trading town of Myawaddy by Myanmar’s resistance fighters and ethnic minority rebels on April 11 dealt a significant blow to the well-armed military regime, testing its ability to maintain control and credibility on the battlefield.
Following a swift counteroffensive by government forces, the rebels withdrew their troops, leading to a reduction in hostilities. However, on April 20, around 3,000 individuals fled across the border into Thailand, with the majority having returned, leaving only a hundred remaining, as confirmed by Thai authorities.
Nikorndej emphasised the proximity of the conflict to Thailand, stating, “The fight between the opposition and the (military) has moved to Myawaddy … it’s very close to Thailand and more needs to be done from the ASEAN side.”
Thailand has proposed an ASEAN summit on the matter, inviting Indonesia, the previous chair, which had shown willingness to engage with the junta’s adversaries, alongside Laos and Malaysia, the upcoming chair for next year.
According to the 2021 Myanmar peace plan, the ASEAN chair nominates a special envoy tasked with advancing the peace process. However, the current chair, Laos, has provided minimal public updates on the envoy’s activities.
Myanmar’s military, facing its most formidable challenge since seizing power in 1962, is embroiled in multiple low-intensity conflicts and has rebuffed attempts at dialogue with its opponents, labelling them as “terrorists”.
