Ethnic leaders in Myanmar have many demands: Thaksin
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Phyo (NP News) - Feb 22
Reports indicate that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has started meeting with key leaders of ethnic armed forces of Myanmar to explore ways to resolve the ongoing armed conflict in the country.
“They presented a long list of demands. However, I asked them to return with a shorter list that would be more realistic,” Thaksin said in an exclusive interview with the Malaysian state-run news agency Bernama in Bangkok.
He also emphasized that the Myanmar government must adopt an inclusive approach by engaging with ethnic groups before discussing the possibility of holding general elections.
“If not, the elections will be a sham,” he warned.
Thaksin serves as an informal senior adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs ASEAN this year.
However, Thaksin did not elaborate on when or where he met with the ethnic groups in detail.
Before being appointed as Anwar’s informal advisor, Thaksin met with leaders of some of the ethnic groups at odds with the Myanmar government in Chiang Mai in March and April last year.
Thaksin told the Bernama that he trusted Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN chair in handling the Myanmar issue.
Thaksin said it would be beneficial if the State Administration Council (SAC) agreed to negotiate with the various ethnic groups.
He said he agreed with Anwar that all sides needed to talk to resolve the conflict. –