Myanmar Junta Courts Neighbours Amid Earthquake Aid Crisis

Thai Enquirer

Myanmar's embattled junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, has resurfaced on the international stage, meeting Indian and Thai leaders in Bangkok even as the United Nations accuses his military of obstructing humanitarian aid following a devastating earthquake.

The rare diplomatic outing came during the BIMSTEC summit, where the junta leader, shunned by most since his 2021 coup, held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thai Premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Their discussions centred on post-quake recovery efforts, with Modi urging a permanent ceasefire in Myanmar, where civil war continues to ravage much of the country.

More than 3,100 people have died and thousands more remain injured or missing after the 7.7-magnitude quake struck last week. While international aid has begun flowing in, the UN says the junta is blocking supplies to areas not loyal to its rule, compounding the humanitarian catastrophe.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as “supercharged suffering” and called for the tragedy to become a turning point for peace. UN officials are investigating dozens of fresh attacks by the military, including 16 reported breaches of the junta’s own ceasefire declared earlier this week.

Min Aung Hlaing, meanwhile, has used the disaster to re-engage with regional partners, pressing forward with talks on trade, infrastructure and security. India has backed calls for “inclusive and credible elections” to resolve the conflict, even as critics argue any vote under junta control would simply entrench military power.

Relief efforts are also racing against time. Heavy rains and extreme heat threaten to spark disease outbreaks in makeshift camps housing displaced survivors across Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw. The US has pledged a further $7 million in aid, but international frustration grows as vital assistance fails to reach those most in need.

While the junta pushes for a December election, many remain sceptical. As pressure mounts, observers say Myanmar’s neighbours — including India, China, and Thailand — now face a delicate balancing act: offering disaster aid without legitimising a regime still widely condemned.

-2025-04-05