Thailand has welcomed as a positive sign Myanmar’s decision to allow Kim Aris, the son of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, to speak to his mother by telephone for the first time in more than five years, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Saturday.
The development suggested that Thailand’s gradual approach to engaging with Myanmar was beginning to yield positive results, he said.
He was speaking after Aris revealed that he had been allowed to speak to his mother, who he said sounded fairly healthy.
Suu Kyi has been detained since the military coup in February 2021.
“Myanmar’s decision to allow Aris to speak to his mother by telephone was another positive sign,” Sihasak said.
He said the problems in Myanmar must be resolved by the Myanmar people themselves, while Thailand could offer advice and support and do what it could to help.
Sihasak said Thailand had maintained dialogue with Myanmar without conferring legitimacy on its authorities.
The visit to Suu Kyi by the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was another encouraging development.
The ICRC chief’s visit helped reassure other countries about her condition, Sihasak said.
He said external pressure had its limits and that Myanmar’s authorities would have to recognise for themselves that returning the country to the ASEAN and opening dialogue with opposition groups would serve their own interests.
“Pressure has its limits. Myanmar must see it in its own interests to return to ASEAN and open dialogue with opposition groups. As a neighbour, Thailand can only encourage and engage with it,” he said.
Asked whether Myanmar would be discussed at the ASEAN Summit in November, Sihasak said the issue would be addressed at ministerial-level meetings ahead of the leaders’ summit.
Thailand would assess ASEAN’s next steps in light of the latest developments in Myanmar, he said.
He reiterated that Thailand wanted Myanmar to return to ASEAN, but stressed that Myanmar’s authorities would also have to demonstrate their own commitment to progress.
ASEAN members would need to assess Myanmar’s actions and determine whether there had been meaningful improvements before deciding how to proceed, Sihasak said.
Thailand hoped that all parties would recognise the positive signs emerging from Myanmar.
If the situation continued to improve, Myanmar should be allowed to return to ASEAN, he said, adding that the timing would be for ASEAN members to decide.
