Myanmar Leader Visits Thailand to Bolster International Legitimacy
Theo Al Jazeera Staff
Myanmar's military-backed leader Min Aung Hlaing met Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok on Thursday, his first official visit to Thailand since the 2021 coup. He emphasized efforts to end the civil war and restore peace, while seeking ASEAN reinstatement, despite protests and criticism over legitimacy.
The head of Myanmar's military-backed government met Thailand's prime minister in Bangkok as he seeks to boost his administration's legitimacy more than five years after taking power.
Min Aung Hlaing, who has served as Myanmar's president since April, arrived in the Thai capital on Thursday (June 26) for his first official visit to the country since the 2021 coup.
Myanmar remains mired in a bloody civil conflict that originated from the coup, with over 100,000 deaths recorded, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) monitoring group.
During a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Min Aung Hlaing stressed that the military-led government is focused on ending internal hostilities and restoring peace to the resource-rich nation.
“Myanmar has now re-established the democratic path and is moving toward a better future,” Min Aung Hlaing said. “As the new government, we have started implementing efforts for national stability, peace, and ethnic reconciliation.”
Min Aung Hlaing is pushing for Myanmar's reinstatement into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), from which his government was barred after failing to implement a peace plan agreed with member states in 2021.
Thailand is one of Myanmar's largest foreign investors and has called for a “modified re-engagement approach” with its neighbor, with which it shares a 2,400-kilometer border.
Following their talks, the two leaders delivered remarks at the Thailand-Myanmar Business Forum.
Anutin said Thailand and Myanmar are ready to “enter a new chapter of economic cooperation built on mutual trust and bringing benefits to the peoples of both countries.”
Min Aung Hlaing urged businesses to “confidently invest” in Myanmar's energy, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and other sectors.
The visit drew criticism from advocacy groups such as Justice For Myanmar, which said it lends “fake legitimacy” to Min Aung Hlaing and the ruling generals.
About a dozen protesters gathered outside the UN regional headquarters in Bangkok to oppose the trip, with some holding banners calling him a “criminal” and saying he is unwelcome in Thailand.
Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as Myanmar's president in April following an election that UN experts dismissed as a “sham.”
Western governments have boycotted and sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and his associates for overthrowing the government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Severe human rights abuses followed a deadly crackdown on protests, sparking a nationwide armed resistance movement and a brutal civil war.
Aung San Suu Kyi, ousted in 2021 and currently under house arrest, was allowed to meet representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday (June 23). Her son, Kim Aris, welcomed this development but noted he had not yet received independent confirmation of his mother's health condition.
Critics view the visit as a move to improve the image of Myanmar's military government as it attempts to restore its international standing.
