Your current location:HOME >sport >Thailand warns Myanmar’s rivals against using its soil for harm: ministers — Radio Free Asia 正文
TIME:2024-05-21 12:14:13 Source: Internet compilationEdit:sport
Thailand has warned Myanmar’s junta and rebel groups against using its territory for “their own sake
Thailand has warned Myanmar’s junta and rebel groups against using its territory for “their own sake,” Thailand’s defense minister said, amid fears that fighting in eastern Myanmar could spill over the Thai-Myanmar border.
Over the weekend, Myanmar junta forces battled anti-junta insurgents in the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy, opposite the Thai town of Mae Sot, a major conduit for trade between the neighbors.
The escalating violence in Myanmar has sent refugees fleeing across the border into Thailand. Junta air strikes on Saturday and Sunday, in response to the capture by rebels of junta strongholds in Myawaddy, sent about 3,000 people over the Thai border seeking safety.
“Today, we were able to have a discussion and send a message to the other side [Myanmar junta and ethnic groups] regarding whether there are planes to be flown in the area,” Thailand’s minister of defense,Sutin Klungsang, told a conference with other senior Thai government officials on Tuesday.
“We would have the capacity to intercept those planes. It was a friendly message, but meant as somewhat of a warning.”
Myanmar’s neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have tried to promote a resolution of the crisis in Myanmar which began when the military overthrew an elected government in early 2021. But Myanmar’s generals have largely ignored ASEAN’s efforts. Thailand has established a committee to handle the crisis but political analyst Panitan Wattanayagorn believes this only indicates that previous mechanisms are not working.
“It suggests to you that the normal mechanism at the office for the National Security Council doesn’t work, it’s quite problematic,” Panitan told Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.
He said Thai government statements on protecting sovereignty, and on humanitarian aid and neutrality may not be enough to restore public confidence in border security and reactions were too slow and general.
“This is not enough to calm down the panic or the worries of the people, of the traders, of the international community and ASEAN,” he said, emphasizing that Thailand’s defense system also needed to be improved.
“We need to move more quickly to exert our power and push the position to get more things done.”
Thai media outlets reported more clashes in Myawaddy as of Tuesday, but Thai government ministers said they were hopeful that the situation was returning to normal.
On Wednesday, there were reports that the anti-junta Karen National Liberation Army had withdrawn “temporarily” from Myawaddy following a counteroffensive by the junta.
“The situation has improved in the past couple of days and we are happy to see it under the good care of the agencies on the ground,” said Minister of the Interior Anutin Charnvirakul at Tuesday’s conference. “We look forward to the normalcy that will come in the days ahead.”
Anutin added that tourists could safely visit Mae Sot and that border trade was still flowing.
“This is Thai sovereign territory and we are well-prepared to respond to any eventuality,” he said.
Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.
OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons2024-05-21 12:07
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities2024-05-21 11:51
Watch the hilarious moment Prince William laughs off a woman shouting 'Can I have a kiss, William?'2024-05-21 11:32
Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen out for Game 2 against Celtics with bruised ribs2024-05-21 11:22
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky2024-05-21 11:21
Maui to hire expert to evaluate county's response to deadly wildfire2024-05-21 11:11
Elizabeth Taylor documentary with never2024-05-21 10:34
Drake shares cryptic post amid ugly feud with Kendrick Lamar2024-05-21 10:23
Yvette Fielding says her Most Haunted co2024-05-21 10:03
AP Week in Pictures: Latin America and Caribbean2024-05-21 09:35
The government wants to buy their flood2024-05-21 12:01
Apple TV fans sent into a FRENZY over trailer for upcoming thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal2024-05-21 11:56
Club World Cup: Why FIFA is facing pushback over US2024-05-21 11:43
Hossler, MacIntyre share 1st2024-05-21 11:41
A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it2024-05-21 11:26
Harris congratulates HBCU graduates in video message for graduation season2024-05-21 11:24
Cara Delevingne keeps it casual in white t2024-05-21 10:32
Vick Hope shows off her long legs in a summery pink mini dress as she departs BBC studios2024-05-21 10:28
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University2024-05-21 10:08
Inside British Airways' HQ control room2024-05-21 10:00