Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow announced that the opposing sides in the Myanmar conflict are open to dialogue. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy, Maria Theresa Lazaro, met with Myanmar’s military-backed negotiators and six rebel groups, including the Karen National Union and the Karenni National Progressive Party.
Meetings and Talks
The meetings were held to discuss a possible peace initiative for Myanmar, where an estimated 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the 2021 coup. All sides recognized that a military solution is not in their interests, and Thailand is ready to serve as a facilitator and provide a venue for future peace talks.
The groups are yet to reach a common position but are working on it. ASEAN hopes to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the coup, face to face. Thailand has not abandoned ASEAN’s peace plan for Myanmar, known as the “Five-Point Consensus”.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
