The rebels have since withdrawn troops following a counteroffensive by government soldiers and fighting has since died down. On Apr 20, 3,000 people fled over the border and all but 100 have since returned, Thailand said.
“The fight between the opposition and the (military) has moved to Myawaddy … it’s very close to Thailand and more needs to be done from the ASEAN side,” Nikorndej added.
Thailand this week proposed an ASEAN meeting on the issue that would include previous chair Indonesia, which had sought to engage the junta’s rivals, plus Laos, and next year’s chair, Malaysia.
Under the 2021 Myanmar peace plan, the ASEAN chair appoints a special envoy tasked with advancing the process. Current chair Laos has made little public mention of its envoy’s activities.
Myanmar’s military, facing its biggest challenge since first taking control of Myanmar in 1962, is caught up multiple low-intensity conflicts and has refused to engage with opponents, calling them “terrorists”.
