Thread by @MayWongCNA

🧵#Thailand's foreign minister has invited his fellow #ASEAN counterparts to an "informal" dialogue to discuss ways to help resolve #Myanmar #coup crisis, into its 3rd year. Invite also extended to Myanmar #military irrawaddy.com/news/the-world… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #เมียนมา #พม่า

I understand that a few @ASEAN foreign ministers from nations like #Malaysia #Singapore & current @asean_ri chair #Indonesia will not participate in the talks mooted by #Thailand to take place in #Bangkok June 18-19. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

In the #Thai invite letter to @ASEAN foreign ministers, which I've also seen, @MFAThai minister Don says the "meeting is intended to be an informal dialogue that could be part of the initial steps of the #Myanmar peace process" #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

#Thailand's invite letter also says it comes on the back of "a member nation of #ASEAN" in the May leaders' summit saying "it was time for @ASEAN to fully re-engage #Myanmar at the leaders' level". (The "member nation" was not undentified) #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

But in May @ASEAN leaders' summit in #Indonesia, #Philippines president did suggest a new approach could be taken by regional bloc to "find ways to re-engage both sides of the conflict, both the military regime & the opposition" gmanetwork.com/news/topstorie… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

#ASEAN had banned #Myanmar #military chief from all meetings since Oct 2021. The bloc only allows non-political representative at meetings. The group has repeatedly said Myanmar has failed to make progress in resolving the crisis reuters.com/world/asia-pac… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

#ASEAN members have also repeatedly called on #Myanmar #military to implement the 5-point plan 1st drawn up in April 2021, some 3 months after coup was staged bangkokpost.com/thailand/gener… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

#ASEAN had also been issuing statements condemning the many attacks & violence in #Myanmar during the ongoing #coup. 1 of the latest was in May when an @AHACentre convoy with ASEAN Monitoring Team was attacked in Myanmar apnews.com/article/asean-….
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

Current @ASEAN chair @asean_ri #Indonesia has also been 1 of the more outspoken critics of #Myanmar #military's actions among the member states. Other members like #Singapore & #Malaysia have also been equally critical of army reuters.com/world/asia-pac… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

In last @ASEAN @asean_ri leaders' summit in May in #Indonesia, member states, excluding #Myanmar, reiterated its insistence the #military must implement/make progress on 5-point plan & to immediately stop "all forms of violence" asean.org/chairmans-stat… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

#Thailand had already held "informal" dialogues on #Myanmar's #coup crisis twice - 1st in March & the 2nd in April this year in #India. But some have slammed #Bangkok for doing so as it's inconsistent with @ASEAN's decisions/stand bangkokpost.com/world/2557711/… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

On #Thailand's latest invite for 3rd informal dialogue on #Myanmar crisis June 18-19, rights group @FortifyRights @Patrick_Phongsa says #Bangkok should not hold talks as it's a "desperate & misguided attempt by Thailand to whitewash the junta’s crimes" #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar

According to @aapp_burma, at least 3,663 killed & over 19,000 still detained since #Myanmar #military staged Feb 2021 #coup. #UN says 1.8 million displaced, 60,000 civilian properties destroyed & at least 4 million need #humanitarian aid urgently #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar END 🧵