Thailand, a longstanding figure in the ASEAN bloc, has issued a fervent plea to all the parties involved in Myanmar’s ongoing unrest. The plea calls for urgent involvement in diplomatic discussions targeted at ushering in peace at the earliest convenience. Thailand’s call came as part of an annual convention that included the personal presence of 97 eminent overseas diplomatic figures, assembled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters on a recent Tuesday.
In this key assembly, Mongkol Visitstump, the ambassador of Thailand in Myanmar, ventured into a comprehensive report touching the contemporary efforts being made for brewing peace. Myanmar, riddled with intensified internal strife since the military coup in February 2021, remains a boiling cauldron of conflicts between the government troops and various ethnic armed factions.
“The pursuit of peace in the tumultuous landscape of Myanmar through firm and immediate diplomatic dialogues is not just an act of charity for Myanmar and its inhabitants. It is also a preemptive step to curb any potential complications seeping into Thailand or any other neighboring nation,” pronounced Ambassador Mongkol.
Regarding any probe into Thailand’s reactions to the escalating clashes near the fringe shared by Thailand and Myanmar, the ambassador shared some vital light. He revealed how the government, apart from directing humanitarian aid to alleviate the sufferings of the affected populace, has been attempting to untangle the unrest. The tactics devised revolve around a five-point consensus, conceived and accepted by every member of ASEAN.
This consensus espouses an immediate halt in hostilities, an effort to build a dialogue that involves all sides, and expects an envoy chosen by the ASEAN chair to broker the talks, supported by the secretary-general. The consensus further expects ASEAN’s center for disaster management and humanitarian assistance to deploy relief efforts. Moreover, it allows the special emissary and other representatives to Myanmar to hold dialogues with all concerned factions.
However, he confessed that these measures might not suffice the need for a stronger response mechanism to manage such crises. “We endorse the exchange of ideas and perspectives via meetings, including those that are unofficial. Passive observation does nothing but aggravate the situation,” Ambassador Mongkol added. “We might overlook vital opportunities if we don’t address the most pressing issues—pacifying the conflicts and ensuring help reaches those desperately needing it.”
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