ASEAN special envoy meets Myanmar opposition groups in Thailand

To resolve the internal conflict in Myanmar, ASEAN special envoy Trisalazaro met with ethnic armed organizations and the military junta's NSPNC in Thailand, with both sides expressing openness to dialogue, the Philippines announced on July 14. This meeting follows the July 13 session, the first in-person meeting between ASEAN ministers and the junta-appointed foreign minister since the coup. The military junta has been barred from attending summit meetings for not adhering to ASEAN's "five-point consensus," but some ASEAN member states are hoping for progress from this meeting. Some analysts point out that re-engaging with a new civilian government led by Min Aung Hlaing could diminish ASEAN's influence. According to a statement from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Trisalazaro met with Myanmar's revolutionary groups and the military junta's negotiation team to discuss the path forward for an inclusive political dialogue. The statement said both sides expressed openness to the dialogue process and emphasized the importance of conducting constructive discussions. The National Unity Government (NUG), formed by former members of the ousted government, stated that they were not invited and expressed concern about the meeting. NUG Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung questioned whether this meeting was implementing ASEAN's 5PC or based on the military junta's 100-day plan and peace initiatives. Source: Reuters