Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra met privately with military council leader Min Aung Hlaing during the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok earlier this April, where he urged for peace negotiations with opposition forces in Myanmar. According to Thai media outlet The Nation, Thaksin expressed his desire to see peace restored in Myanmar and therefore engaged in discussions with Min Aung Hlaing. During their meeting, Thaksin emphasized Thailand’s position on seeking peaceful dialogue to end the violence in Myanmar.
Thaksin stated that direct communication with the military council is necessary to find a path to peace, and that Thailand stands ready to act as a mediator between the military council and revolutionary forces. He reported that Min Aung Hlaing appeared receptive to his suggestions, though Thaksin noted that multiple rounds of discussions would be needed before any peace talks could begin. ‘He listened to and accepted my advice. I need to talk with him many times before peace talks can begin,’ Thaksin was quoted as saying. The former Thai leader emphasized that Thailand desires to see an end to violence in Myanmar through peaceful negotiation methods.
While Thaksin avoided discussing the military council’s planned elections, he acknowledged ASEAN’s position on the release of political prisoners and the need for dialogue at the peace table. Currently, the military council is facing significant losses across the country, having lost control of nearly 100 towns while attempting to organize elections in December. However, the military council’s attempts to hold elections face strong opposition from the public and lack international recognition. The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread violence and displacement, with the military council losing territorial control while continuing to face resistance from various opposition forces across Myanmar.
