Thai military’s close ties with Myanmar junta compromising ASEAN efforts to resolve crisis

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World

 

Thailand’s lenient stance as well as the close ties between its armed forces and the Myanmar military — also known as Tatmadaw — would undermine the efforts of ASEAN and the international community to ease the ongoing crisis in that country, according to many independent observers.

 

Thousands of people have died in the neighbouring country and over a million have been displaced since a military coup on February 1, 2021.

 

The latest move that raised eyebrows in international circles was a meeting between the chief of Thailand’s Defense Forces, Chalermphon Srisawasdi, and Min Aung Hlaing, the top commander of the Tatmadaw, at a resort in Myanmar’s strife-torn Rakhine state from January 19-21.

 

Normally the meeting of the High-Level Committee — a mechanism for military cooperation between the two countries — has never drawn public attention. But this meeting happened shortly after the assets of Min Aung Hlaing’s children and cronies were confiscated in Thailand over their alleged involvement in illicit drug trade.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-militarys-close-ties-with-myanmar-junta-compromising-asean-efforts-to-resolve-crisis/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-01-25

 

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[ozz1]

Why is this news brothers in arms both as bad as each other

[Thailand]

Both military governments, simply one somewhat worse that the other one.

[spidermike007]

If anyone ever questioned the level of moral bankruptcy and social rot that the Thai army represents, look no further. They are true vampires, sucking the blood of society. 

[Katipo]

4 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Why is this news brothers in arms both as bad as each other

It's news because people should know that one is as bad as the other, and quite possibly in cahoots. The more spotlights shined on this, the better.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s lenient stance as well as the close ties between its armed forces and the Myanmar military — also known as Tatmadaw — would undermine the efforts of ASEAN and the international community to ease the ongoing crisis in that country, according to many independent observers.

A publicly voted for democratic government might have had a different outcome.

But with the military in power why would you expect anything different.

[Srikcir]

Most of ASEAN won't care.

• Malaysia is a hybrid regime oscillating between democratic institutions and authoritarian practices.
• Laos and Vietnam are communist.
• Cambodia’s political system is a full-blown “hegemonic” authoritarian rule.
• Brunei is an absolute monarchy
• Timor leste is an authoritarian Mozambique-style suppression of opposition and freedom of speech

vs

• Indonesia is still controlled by an oligarchy and virtually the same old elites linked to Suharto era.

vs

• Singapore is a unitary state with a republican form of government in which the political power is vested in and entrusted to the parliament with confidence by its electorate.

vs

• The Philippines where recently the family of the old dictator takes power again with militaristic tendencies but also a new family dynasty was established.

 

[topt]

Last para from the linked article - 

Quote

Thailand-based activists and human rights defenders have expressed hope that the next Thai general election, tentatively scheduled for May 7, would bring an end to the current pro-military regime. They expect a new government in Bangkok to recalibrate its foreign policy towards Myanmar to stay in alignment with the ASEAN chair.

Is there actually any realistic hope to the first part of the above?

[bangon04]

5 hours ago, Thailand said:

Both military governments, simply one somewhat worse that the other one.

who is giving advice to whom????

[ChrisY1]

52 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Most of ASEAN won't care.

• Malaysia is a hybrid regime oscillating between democratic institutions and authoritarian practices.
• Laos and Vietnam are communist.
• Cambodia’s political system is a full-blown “hegemonic” authoritarian rule.
• Brunei is an absolute monarchy
• Timor leste is an authoritarian Mozambique-style suppression of opposition and freedom of speech

vs

• Indonesia is still controlled by an oligarchy and virtually the same old elites linked to Suharto era.

vs

• Singapore is a unitary state with a republican form of government in which the political power is vested in and entrusted to the parliament with confidence by its electorate.

vs

• The Philippines where recently the family of the old dictator takes power again with militaristic tendencies but also a new family dynasty was established.

 

Quite right....Other ASEAN members will just keep quiet over this disgraceful liaison between Myanmar and Thailand.

 

[MrJ2U]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If anyone ever questioned the level of moral bankruptcy and social rot that the Thai army represents, look no further. They are true vampires, sucking the blood of society. 

Precisely.

 

It begs disbelief why anyone would even vote for these tyrants in the next election or anyone tied to them. 

[zzaa09]

8 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Why is this news brothers in arms both as bad as each other

Indeed.

Distinguished crisis resolvers. 

 

????

[zzaa09]

56 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Precisely.

 

It begs disbelief why anyone would even vote for these tyrants in the next election or anyone tied to them. 

Well.....that's the base practice behind tyranny. They don't allow such democratic ideals as free/open elections to manifest. Who knows what might blossom from these activities. 

[Sydebolle]

Pot and Kettle thingy springs to mind 

[zzaa09]

19 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Pot and Kettle thingy springs to mind 

Birds of a feather as well. 

[GarryP]

5 hours ago, Katipo said:

It's news because people should know that one is as bad as the other, and quite possibly in cahoots. The more spotlights shined on this, the better.

Definitely in cahoots. Who runs the drug trade and trafficking? 

[billd766]

4 hours ago, topt said:

Last para from the linked article - 

Is there actually any realistic hope to the first part of the above?

IMHO it depends just how far the Thai military are willing to go to steal the election vs how far the Thai people are willing to go to stop them.

[herfiehandbag]

6 hours ago, Katipo said:

It's news because people should know that one is as bad as the other, and quite possibly in cahoots. The more spotlights shined on this, the better.

It is common knowledge, and this sort of liaison with adjacent regimes goes back decades.

 

Look back at the informal links between the army and the Khmer Rouge three or so decades ago - there were some real gems - in teak cabinets inlaid with rosewood one might say.

[fusion58]

Just think of this cozy relationship as analogous to the alliance between the New York and New Jersey mobs.

[spidermike007]

8 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Precisely.

 

It begs disbelief why anyone would even vote for these tyrants in the next election or anyone tied to them. 

They will buy as many votes as they can. And the entire process will be compromised and riddled with moral and ethical bankruptcy. That is just who and what Prayuth and the Royal Thai army are.