Global Courant
BANGKOK — Thailand’s caretaker government is proposing to “fully re-engage” Myanmar’s military rulers and has invited Asean foreign ministers to an informal meeting on Sunday to discuss a stalled peace plan, according to a letter seen by Reuters and sources aware of the invitation.
The proposal was made in a June 14 letter to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counterparts from Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, seen by Reuters on Friday and confirmed by three sources with knowledge of the matter. planned meeting.
At a summit last month, ASEAN leaders called for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar.
The unrest began after the military overthrew the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.
Frustration has grown among some members of the 10-nation bloc over how to deal with Myanmar and its bloody political turmoil.
Thailand’s latest move will raise new questions about the group’s unity.
Two sources with knowledge of Sunday’s meeting told Reuters that Myanmar’s junta-appointed foreign minister had been invited. Myanmar’s military spokesman did not respond to calls Friday evening.
Asean chairman Indonesia has refused to attend the proposed meeting, according to three sources. Indonesia’s foreign ministry told Reuters it had “heard nothing” of the invitation.
Thailand’s foreign ministry declined to comment.
Thailand is expected to have a new government in August following elections last month that saw the ruling pro-military coalition defeated by progressive and populist parties.
Myanmar’s ruling generals have been banned from its high-level meetings by ASEAN for nearly two years for failing to honor a 2021 agreement known as the “5-point consensus”.
It included calls for a cessation of hostilities, dialogue between all parties and the granting of full humanitarian access.
The government of Thailand – whose current prime minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, first came to power in a military coup – has previously tried to reduce Myanmar’s military officials to informal talks with the ASEAN counterparts – sometimes at odds with Indonesia’s efforts.
A source in Jakarta said Indonesia’s rejection of the invitation included the fact that Thailand’s initiative contradicted the recent ASEAN agreement at the May summit.
