Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) claim the recent visit of the Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai to jailed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw was a political move.

Don told the ASEAN summit and reporters that he had had a private meeting with the Nobel Laureate in Naypyidaw on Sunday.

The statement made by Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don regarding the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is a political tactic, said Kyaw Zaw, a Spokesperson of the President’s Office of the NUG.

“It seems as an act of stepping on an unjustly-arrested detained political prisoner for the sake of politics. It is just political tactics. A dishonest attempt is found in this case,” said Kyaw Zaw.

If Thailand’s Foreign Minister has good will and intention, he should demand the immediate release of tens of thousands of unjustly detained political prisoners including the ousted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, he added,

Furthermore, the NUG could not confirm that the meeting actually took place.

Kyaw Zaw pointed out that there is no evidence of the meeting.

The NUG says the meeting should have been handled by the ASEAN Special Representative, questioning why there was the intervention from the Thai foreign minister who is about to step down, following the recent Thai election.

The NUG encouraged ASEAN countries, in helping the Myanmar issue, must reflect the will and attitude of the public, should not attempt to make the situation more complicated, and, in addition, it needs to be in compliance with ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus agreement.

The Thai foreign minister told ASEAN and reporters he met with Aung San Suu Kyi and that she was healthy, noting she encouraged dialogue.

After the February 2021 coup, the Military Council prevented State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi from meeting with international diplomats, allowing her to only meet with some National League for Democracy members.

One analyst expressed skepticism over the meeting. The permission for the meeting was granted because, possibly, Thailand’s Foreign Minister is certain to be able to discuss a situation that could be acceptable by the Military Council, political analyst Ye Tun said.

“The similar situation is that the military seized power in both countries. Since they have similarities, they could understand each other. It seems that they openly discussed what they would say at the meeting and asked for it,” said Ye Tun.

Currently, the State Counselor has been sentenced to 33 years in prison over a total of 19 cases brought by the Military Council.