ASEAN must play key role in resolving Myanmar crisis, Thai PM says

Prior to a summit of the leaders of the 10-member group in Laos this week, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated on Monday ( October 7 ) that the regional bloc ASEAN must play a crucial role in ending the protracted civil war in Myanmar.

Myanmar has experienced unrest since February 2021, when its defense ousted an elected civilian government, causing an armed uprising against the ruling junta.

According to Paetongtarn,” ASEAN may play an important role in restoring peace to Myanmar as soon as possible.”

Thailand will function with Malaysia, next year’s ASEAN seat, to use political methods to resolve the conflict, she said, offering her nation to work as a mediator to allow deals.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN), a group of ten countries that are known as the Five Point Consensus, has launched a peace effort but has struggled since its launch in April 2021 despite numerous calls for dialogue.

The junta has so far turned down opportunities to talk to its competitors, calling them jihadists intent on destroying the nation.