By Panu Wongcha-um
VIENTIANE, Laos (Reuters) – Southeast Asian leaders met in Laos on Wednesday for a summit expected to find ways of tackling a worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand set to propose a new path for a political solution after a regional peace effort made scant progress.
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.
Thailand offered this week 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.
“We want to see a political solution,” Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesperson of Thailand’s foreign ministry, told reporters.
“Thailand is ready to coordinate with all other member countries so there would be a concerted ASEAN effort that could lead to peace in Myanmar.”
Thailand’s initiative would complement existing ASEAN peace efforts, but may not immediately involve countries beyond the region, he added.
The proposal, floated at Tuesday’s meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers, comes as the bloc runs low on options to tackle the Myanmar crisis.
There has been no progress on its “Five-Point Consensus” peace plan unveiled months after the coup, or a drive by Indonesia to persuade anti-junta groups to start dialogue.
In previous months, Thailand has suggested that Myanmar’s other influential neighbours, China and India, might play a role in the peace effort, but the latest plan is limited to the ASEAN bloc.
Any decision on whether Myanmar’s ruling generals or their opponents would be invited to the informal talks would be up to ASEAN chair Laos and the other member states, Nikorndej added.
‘VIRTUALLY ZERO PROGRESS’
Myanmar’s civil war and troubles in the disputed South China Sea are key issues set to dominate the ASEAN leaders’ meeting in Vientiane, which will be followed by two days of summits with premiers and top diplomats from regional and world powers.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese premier Shigeru Ishiba, Chinese premier Li Qiang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are among those set to attend.
Opening Wednesday’s summit, Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone said ASEAN faced many challenges and had its own ways to tackle them.
“Laos deems that ASEAN’s past successes are due to our understanding of among each other,” he said. “We help each other, and co-operate with each other, with an ASEAN way and principles. “
Ahead of Blinken’s trip, the United States’ top diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, told reporters there had been “virtually zero progress” in efforts to get Myanmar’s junta to reduce violence, free political prisoners and talk to the democratic opposition.
“The secretary will continue to emphasise to partners in the region that we must keep up pressure on the regime,” he said, of Blinken’s visit.
Since ASEAN has barred the Myanmar generals from its summits until they can meet requirements of the peace plan, the country is represented in Laos by a senior foreign ministry official.
Nikorndej said Myanmar’s representative urged ASEAN foreign ministers on Tuesday to understand and sympathise with the military government and use more “moderate language” in discussing the crisis.
ASEAN must not bend to accommodate the junta’s demands, including recognising its own five-step “roadmap” for what is expected to be a one-sided election, however, former Thai diplomat Korbsak Chutikul warned.
“Care must be exercised not to be roped into going along with Myanmar’s own five-point plan, like to hold elections next year for a semblance of legitimacy,” Korbsak added.
(Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Martin Petty and Clarence Fernandez)
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