People of Myanmar, citizens, and various ethnic groups all over the country have rallied against the coup and demands for democracy in peace but were brutally suppressed by the army using weapons to kill, take the plane to collapse kills even children, the helpless person. Such acts are totally inhumane. Just on March 27, 114 people were killed. Up to now the number of people who died raised at least 400 bodies and thousands of people is arrested. Many people are fleeing violence and migrating across the country to Thailand while many of them continue to struggle in protest, various ethnic groups are clashing with the Burma Army to protect the lives of the people. The situation at this time is approaching civil war.
The violence facing Myanmar people now is the most severe tragedy of the ASEAN region in decades. This impacts the ASEAN region in both political, social, economic severely. But ASEAN does not have a strong stance enough against the violence of the Burmese Army while keep on adhering to the diplomatic policy “Constructive engagement” that will not interfere with the internal politics of member states.
Particularly, the Thai government which is the leader of ASEAN who has always played a significant role in peace negotiations in the region shows an indifferent attitude not condemning the use of violence, fearing that if acting in condemnation or against the Myanmar Army, the Thai government will lose its role as an intermediary in negotiations with the Myanmar military on regional issues. However, the said reason cannot be an excuse for the Thai government to support the Myanmar Army. Meanwhile, the Thai government is suspected of sending rice, food supplies for Myanmar soldiers along the border, monitoring and attempt to capture the leaders of the anti-coup who fled into Thai soils. On Myanmar Army Day, the Thai government sent representatives to participate in the ceremony while countries around the world boycott and condemn the violence of the Myanmar army. The stance of the Thai government is not merely ignorant of the violence facing by Myanmar people but actually further promotes the using violence of the Myanmar army. This will definitely damage Thailand’s image in the eyes of the world even more.
We are deeply concerned that the violent situation now approaches the state of civil war and will lead to the collapse of the Myanmar nation and the ASEAN as the whole community as well. Now it might be intolerable to adhere and hold on to constructive engagement policy. As superior to the regional policy, there is still an international convention that Thailand has committed on The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
We, therefore, call upon the Thai Government and the Thai people together press the government to immediately deter to end the violence that the Myanmar military has committed against their own people as follows:
- The Thai Government and ASEAN must send a direct, clear, and strong message to pressure the Myanmar army to immediately to stop the violence against their people.
- The Thai government and ASEAN must intervene constructively by being an intermediary to negotiate for an end to the violence by allowing the parties involved in the conflict to join peace talks.
- The Thai government together with ASEAN must uphold human rights principles by creating a safe area for the opposition people to be able to express themselves peacefully without being arrested and suppressed.
- The Thai Government and ASEAN must insist on the principles of democracy and call for and promote the recovery of democracy in Myanmar.
- The Thai government should provide humanitarian measures to those who have suffered from suppression. In the case that there are refugees crossing the border to the Thai side, an explanation should be disseminated the need for Thai people to assist their neighbors, not be disgusted or seen as carriers of COVID while racist mentality should be restrained.
- If there is a necessity for the United Nations to send peacekeeping forces to protect the people of Myanmar, the Thai government should provide serious support.
Collective
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