The House Committee on State Security and Border Affairs will investigate reports that convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra held talks with anti-military junta groups in Myanmar.
The committee will include this matter on its agenda when it makes an official trip to Mae Sot district of Tak province this Sunday, Rangsiman Rome, committee chairman, said today.
The committee will invite related officials to brief its members on the matter, he added, noting that Thaksin’s meeting with representatives of these factions could cause confusion regarding Thailand’s role in restoring peace in Myanmar.
Rangsiman, a key MP of the Move Forward party, asked in what capacity Thaksin hosted the meetings.
“Thaksin has no position in this government and the government did not assign him to create peace in Myanmar,” he said, adding “Any talk with Myanmar’s warring groups should only be conducted by legitimate and authorised representatives.”
He said that he did not understand how Thaksin became a representative of Thailand in the discussion.
Rangsiman expressed concern that, if Thaksin made any commitments in the talks, the Thai government could be bound to follow them.
This could, in turn, put pressure on the Thai government and affect mutual relations, as Thailand, being a fellow ASEAN member, has repeatedly stated its policy of non-involvement in other members’ internal affairs.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should be representing Thailand on this matter. He has support from the parliament, but Thaksin is not in the government.
So far, neither the prime minister nor Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa has denounced Thaksin’s actions, Rangsiman said, which clearly undermines the leadership of both.
“A question could be asked, who is the premier or the foreign minister?” he added.
