16 Thai civil society groups jointly announce objection to Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand

(August 6) Sixteen civil society organizations based in Thailand jointly issued a statement on Wednesday objecting to the official visit of Myanmar's military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to Thailand, urging the Thai government to stop policies that benefit the military junta and not grant political legitimacy to the junta leader. The joint group, led by Solidarity Collective TH and Spirit in Education Movement (SEM), stated that under the administrative body led by Min Aung Hlaing, widespread incidents of violence, systematic human rights violations, and war crimes are alleged to have occurred. Furthermore, the groups pointed out that engagement with the Myanmar military junta would not contribute to regional stability and could prolong the conflict in Myanmar. The joint statement urged the Thai government to reconsider cooperation that benefits the Myanmar military junta, to strengthen the protection of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, to expand free and independent humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar, to deny legitimacy to the military-led quasi-civilian military administration, and to oppose the military junta's re-engagement in full ASEAN processes until violence ceases and democracy is restored. The joint statement also stated that "Thailand should stand with the people of Myanmar, not with those responsible for violence and war crimes."