ASEAN leaders meet in Laos as Thailand PM urges Myanmar engagement ahead of election

From left to right, Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Aung Kyaw Moe, Philippine’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Laos’ President Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, and East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hold hands during the opening ceremony of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, on October 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Southeast Asian leaders gathered in Laos on Wednesday (October 9, 2024) for a summit aimed at addressing the escalating civil war in Myanmar. Thailand has called for increased engagement ahead of an upcoming election planned by Myanmar’s military rulers.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since a military coup in 2021 triggered a nationwide uprising and civil war that has devastated the country’s population of 55 million. The ruling junta has refused to engage in dialogue with its opposition, labeling them as terrorists.

Thailand has proposed hosting an “informal consultation” of the 10 ASEAN member states in December to seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict that has displaced millions of people.

“ASEAN must convey a unified message to all parties in Myanmar that a military solution is not the answer. It is time to initiate dialogue,” stated Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during the ASEAN leaders’ meeting. “Thailand stands ready to assist.”

The junta is conducting a nationwide census in preparation for an election next year, despite lacking control over large parts of the country.

ASEAN has yet to comment on the proposed election, which has been widely criticized as a sham, with numerous parties, including the prominent National League for Democracy (NLD) that the military ousted from power, being disbanded for failing to register for the election.

However, Ms. Shinawatra hinted at Thailand’s support for holding the election, emphasizing that “more political space and dialogue between parties are crucial as Myanmar progresses towards elections”.

Within ASEAN, there are differing views among member states on how to address the situation in Myanmar, with some advocating for the junta to take more action, while others call for increased dialogue among conflicting parties, according to Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura.

“We believe that Myanmar should engage in internal discussions among all stakeholders. We support and encourage this approach,” Nikorndej stated at a press briefing in Vientiane following the leaders’ summit.

In recent months, Thailand has suggested that Myanmar’s neighboring countries, such as China and India, could play a role in the peace process, a stance reiterated by Ms. Shinawatra. “Thailand is enhancing the involvement of Myanmar’s neighboring countries to complement ASEAN’s efforts,” she affirmed.

“Little progress made in reducing violence by Myanmar’s junta”

The civil war in Myanmar and resolving conflicts in the South China Sea are major topics expected to dominate discussions at the ASEAN leaders’ meeting in Vientiane, followed by two days of summits with regional and global leaders and diplomats.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are among the attendees.

Opening the summit on Wednesday, Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone acknowledged the challenges facing ASEAN and highlighted the organization’s collaborative approach to addressing them.

“Laos believes that ASEAN’s past achievements are a result of our mutual understanding, assistance, and cooperation based on ASEAN principles,” he remarked.

Prior to Mr. Blinken’s visit, Daniel Kritenbrink, the U.S. top diplomat for East Asia, expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in persuading Myanmar’s junta to reduce violence, release political prisoners, and engage with the democratic opposition.

Since Myanmar’s military leaders have not met the requirements of ASEAN’s peace plan, the country is represented in Laos by a senior official from the Foreign Ministry.

However, former Thai diplomat Korbsak Chutikul cautioned against accommodating the junta’s demands, including endorsing their five-step “roadmap” for an anticipated one-sided election. “We must be cautious not to be coerced into supporting Myanmar’s own five-point plan, such as holding elections next year for a semblance of legitimacy,” Mr. Korbsak emphasized.