18-6-2023 (BANGKOK) Thailand’s Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, confirmed that the caretaker government organized a forum where representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries could listen to delegates from the Myanmar junta. He clarified that Thailand was not acting on behalf of ASEAN but hosting the meeting for regional interests.
This statement came in response to a report suggesting that Thailand was hosting an informal meeting for ASEAN member states to engage with representatives of the Myanmar junta, despite their exclusion from ASEAN’s high-level gatherings.
Minister Don explained that the meeting was not an official ASEAN event but a platform for member states to gain insights into the developments in Myanmar since the junta appointed a new foreign minister. He emphasized that this was the third meeting of its kind hosted by Thailand, though it had gone unreported in the past. The purpose was to facilitate dialogue and better understand the junta’s actions.
Thailand extended invitations to ASEAN ministers, allowing them to attend or send representatives based on their discretion. Minister Don stressed the importance of transparency and the need for dialogue with Myanmar to find a way forward.
While the Thai government clarified to ASEAN member states that it was not acting on behalf of ASEAN or the ASEAN chair, it expressed its support for the chair’s work. Minister Don highlighted Thailand’s commitment to restoring security, stability, and unlocking the true potential of ASEAN, without seeking credit for its efforts.
During the recent ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, most leaders recognized the importance of engaging with Myanmar, but no tangible actions were taken. Minister Don argued that the situation in Myanmar has evolved significantly, with increased conflicts involving ethnic minority groups. This necessitated interaction and dialogue to address the pressing concerns.
Thailand, sharing a 2,400-kilometer border with Myanmar, expressed its eagerness for a swift resolution to the issues in its neighboring country. The foreign minister emphasized that the problems in Myanmar had broader implications for regional politics and could potentially impact the entire region if left unaddressed.
The informal meeting, scheduled to take place in Pattaya over Sunday and Monday, proceeded despite the absence of ministers from some ASEAN member states due to short notice. Minister Don acknowledged that the Indonesian foreign minister, as the ASEAN chair, was displeased with Thailand’s actions, but clarified that they viewed it as a complementary effort.
The Thai Foreign Ministry later confirmed that the unofficial meeting, set for Monday, would involve high-level representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The purpose of the meeting was to address the conflicts in Myanmar and its impact on the participating nations.
Thailand had previously informed the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phnom Penh in 2021 about their intention to facilitate discussions on peaceful solutions to the Myanmar crisis, which had received no objections at that time, according to the Foreign Ministry’s statement.
