Cambodian and Thai delegations meet Myanmar junta

02 July 2022
Cambodian and Thai delegations meet Myanmar junta
This handout from Myanmar's military information team taken and released on June 30, 2022 shows Myanmar's armed forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (R) shaking hands with Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy to Myanmar, in Naypyidaw. Photo: Handout / MYANMAR MILITARY INFORMATION TEAM / AFP

Cambodian and Thai delegations have been meeting in Naypyitaw this week to discuss mutual affairs and how to deal with the Myanmar crisis.

Cambodia’s foreign minister Prak Sokhonn is making his second visit to Myanmar as a special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the country that has been mired in violence and civil unrest since the military seized power last year, AP reports.

ASEAN has been seeking to implement a five-point consensus it reached on Myanmar last year calling for dialogue among all concerned parties, provision of humanitarian assistance, an immediate cessation of violence and a visit by a special envoy to meet all parties. Cambodia is the current chair of the 10-nation grouping, which includes Myanmar.

Prak Sokhonn was told he would not be allowed to meet ousted government leader Aung San Suu Kyi on his five-day visit that ends Sunday.

Cambodian envoy wrote a letter to the Myanmar junta requesting Aung San Suu Kyi be allowed to return “to her original place of  detention”, despite demands from, amongst others the UN, that all political prisoners be unconditionally released, local media reports. The request was reportedly turned down by the junta.

Meanwhile, Myanmar and Thai military officials also met in Naypyitaw this week, DVB reports.

A delegation led by Lt-Gen Apichet Suesat of the Royal Thai Army is said by state media to have discussed with Min Aung Hlaing and other State Administration Council (SAC) officials ways to aid the Myanmar military’s current “peace talks and the establishment of “stability” within the country.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed deepening military cooperation in areas such as border stability, regional law enforcement, and drug control.

The Thai delegation meeting happened as a furor broke out over a Myanmar fighter jet’s incursion over Thai territory. The Myanmar side reportedly apologized for the incident.