Myanmar junta ‘losing strength’, Thai PM says: ‘it’s time to reach out and make a deal’
- Myanmar is in the throes of an insurgency on multiple fronts, with the junta facing its biggest challenge since mounting a coup to seize power in 2021
- But even if the generals ‘are losing, they have the power, they have the weapons’, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said in an interview
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The insurgency is the biggest challenge the Myanmar junta has faced since it mounted a coup against an elected government in 2021.
“The current regime is starting to lose some strength,” Srettha said in an interview on the resort island of Samui on Sunday, adding, “but even if they are losing, they have the power, they have the weapons”.
“Maybe it’s time to reach out and make a deal,” he said.
The Thai parliament also hosted a seminar last month on the political situation in Myanmar that included the appearance of opponents of the Myanmar’s military, despite the junta’s objection.
Srettha said Myanmar was very important for Thailand and he and other Thai officials have been talking to various stakeholders in Myanmar and international partners including China and the US
“The country that stands to gain most if Myanmar becomes unified, peaceful and prosperous is Thailand,” Srettha said.
The Thai government will not take sides in international conflict and its policy will be to address conflict peacefully, government spokesman Chai Watcharong said in a statement on Monday after media inquiries about the situation in Myanmar.
Srettha said he is planning to talk to cabinet ministers, senior military and security officials on Tuesday to streamline government policies on Myanmar.
“I’m meeting with five or six people who are the key players and make sure that we are on the same page,” he said.
