Myanmar’s neighbours, some ASEAN members hold secretive talks on crisis – sources

Two sources said government and think-tank leaders from Myanmar and its neighbors, including India and China, met in New Delhi on Tuesday to secretly deescalate a violent situation in the army-run Southeast Asian nation.

After its powerful military ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021, Myanmar descended into conflict and economic disaster.

This week’s talks were the second in a “Track 1.5” engagement that began in Thailand last month as ASEAN gets frustrated with the military’s failure to implement a peace plan it agreed to in April 2021.

The sources, who requested anonymity because the procedure was classified, said Myanmar, India, China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Indonesia, the current ASEAN chair, were at Tuesday’s meeting.

One source stated attendees wanted to include Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), a resistance group labeled “terrorists” by the military.

“They are wanting to talk to NUG at some point in time officially, because the NUG and the Myanmar army haven’t spoken officially at all,” said the source briefed on the meeting. “Participants’ hopes.”

Reuters was unable to reach Myanmar’s junta spokesperson, India and Thailand’s foreign ministries, or the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesperson was unaware of the encounter.

Kyaw Zaw, NUG spokesperson, stated the NUG welcomes interaction with regional nations.

“We welcome all efforts from the international community to end violence and atrocities in Myanmar,” he said.

The second source stated the meeting was held by an Indian think-tank and discussed all sides minimizing violence, establishing room for negotiation, and delivering humanitarian relief. The next meeting will be in Laos.

“The neighbouring countries’ perspective needs to be taken into account,” said the source. “For them, the foremost priority is the de-escalation of the violence.”

Western countries distrust the junta, but it has increased cooperation with Russia and recently received Thailand’s military chief and foreign minister.

On Monday, retired UN chief Ban Ki-moon met the junta commander and reformist former president and demanded a halt to bloodshed.

Myanmar’s only recognized diplomatic process, ASEAN’s five-point consensus, calls for a ceasefire and dialogue.

Infuriating the generals, ASEAN has prohibited the junta from attending unless they implement the plan.

The second source claimed the sessions “will only complement ASEAN.”

Devjyot Ghoshal reported; Reuters Staff, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta contributed; Martin Petty edited.