ASEAN Leaders Meet In Laos

Southeast Asian leaders met in Laos on Wednesday for a summit expected to seek ways address the worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand calling for heightened engagement ahead of a planned election by the country’s embattled military rulers.

Chaos has prevailed in Myanmar since a 2021 military coup sparked a nationwide rebellion and a civil war that has ravaged the nation of 55 million. The ruling junta has so far refused to hold talks with its opponents, whom it calls terrorists.

North Korea’s Army has said it will completely cut off roads and railways connected to South Korea, starting from Wednesday.

Thailand has offered to host an “informal consultation” of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in December to try to find a way out of the intractable conflict that has displaced millions of people.

“ASEAN should send a unified message to all parties in Myanmar that there is no military solution. It is time to start talking,” Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra told a meeting of ASEAN leaders.

“Thailand is ready to help.”

Nationwide Census
The junta is conducting a nationwide census to pave the way for an election next year, despite not having control over wide swathes of the country.

ASEAN has so far said little of the proposed election, which has already been widely derided as a sham, with dozens of parties – including the dominant National League for Democracy (NLD), whose government the military toppled – disbanded for not registering to run.

But Paetongtarn hinted at Thailand’s support for holding the vote, saying, “more political space and dialogue between parties are vital as Myanmar moves forward with elections.”

Within ASEAN, whose own peace plan for Myanmar has made scant progress, member states are divided between those who want the junta to do more, and those calling for more talks among warring parties, according to Thailand’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura.

“We hope that Myanmar should have internal consultation among all sides. And we encourage that. It has been our position all along, ” Nikorndej told a briefing in Vientiane following the leaders’ summit.

In previous months, Thailand has suggested that Myanmar’s other influential neighbours, China and India, might play a role in the peace effort, a stance Paetongtarn reiterated.

“Thailand is strengthening the role of neighbouring countries of Myanmar to complement ASEAN’s effort,” she said.

Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq