Thai opposition party protests welcome for Min Aung Hlaing

(August 6) The People's Party, Thailand's main opposition party, has protested the state-level welcome for Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing, warning that the move could grant political legitimacy to the military regime accused of human rights abuses. Anusorn Thammajai, a Member of Parliament from the People's Party, urged the Thai government to reconsider inviting Min Aung Hlaing to future state ceremonies. He stated that the Thai parliament and government should reaffirm their commitments to human rights protection and ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar. Furthermore, he proposed the formation of a joint peace committee involving Thai and Myanmar opposition forces, ethnic organizations, and civil society groups. The People's Party pointed out that close engagement with Myanmar's military leaders could damage Thailand's democratic image and weaken its standing within the international community. The party also warned that this could particularly affect Thailand's economic cooperation and its efforts to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). During Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand, the Thai government discussed issues such as bilateral economic cooperation, border security, and Myanmar's return to ASEAN. However, criticism of the visit continues to emerge from civil society organizations and political forces within Thailand.