16-12-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand has announced plans to convene two crucial regional meetings this week focusing on the ongoing Myanmar crisis, with one session set to include representatives from the military junta. The announcement comes as Malaysia signals fresh efforts to bring Myanmar back into the ASEAN fold.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa will oversee the separate consultations, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, following Thailand’s October proposal to facilitate informal dialogue aimed at addressing the tumultuous situation that has engulfed Myanmar since the military seized power in 2021.
Thursday’s gathering will centre on border security and transnational crime concerns, with confirmed participation from Myanmar officials, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura. The meeting will bring together delegates from nations sharing borders with Myanmar, including China, India, Bangladesh, Laos, and Thailand.
The subsequent Friday session will elevate discussions to the foreign minister level, involving “interested members” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This meeting will scrutinise ASEAN’s “Five Point Consensus” peace initiative, though Myanmar’s participation and level of representation remain uncertain.
Since the coup, ASEAN has maintained a firm stance by limiting Myanmar’s participation in high-level regional gatherings to non-political representatives, effectively sidelining the military leadership.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who will assume ASEAN’s chairmanship in 2025, expressed his commitment to advancing the regional bloc’s peace framework. Speaking at a joint press conference in Kuala Lumpur alongside Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Anwar revealed ongoing informal diplomatic efforts across various levels to facilitate Myanmar’s return to ASEAN’s mainstream.
Indonesia has confirmed its foreign minister’s attendance at Friday’s consultation, underlining the regional importance of these talks.
The meetings come against the backdrop of continued upheaval in Myanmar, where a nationwide rebellion and civil conflict have torn through the country of 55 million people following the military’s power grab in 2021.
At their October summit, ASEAN leaders emphasised the urgent need to halt violence and establish conditions conducive to humanitarian aid delivery and inclusive dialogue, stressing that any resolution must be “Myanmar-owned and -led”.
