NewzBANGKOK (AP) — The head of Myanmar’s military-backed government arrived in Thailand on Thursday for an official visit that could serve as a major stepping stone in his effort to win political legitimacy more than five years after seizing power from an elected civilian government.President Min Aung Hlaing 's two-day official visit, scheduled for Aug. 6-7, includes meetings with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other officials at Government House, where they are expected to sign several memorandums of understanding. Following the meetings, the two leaders will attend a Thailand-Myanmar Business Forum.The visit has drawn criticism from activist groups such as Justice For Myanmar, which stated that the trip lends “false legitimacy” to Min Aung Hlaing and the ruling generals.Min Aung Hlaing took a significant step toward would-be political rehabilitation in April when he was sworn in as president following an election held in phases in December and January.
Critics dismissed the polls as a sham designed to consolidate the military’s grip on power while ostensibly restoring civilian rule.The diplomatic outreach is the latest in a series of moves to reengage with countries in the region and the international community after relations became frayed or frosty following Min Aung Hlaing's ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February 2021 while serving as army chief.Western nations have shunned Myanmar's ruling generalsWestern governments have shunned and sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and his associates for overthrowing Suu Kyi's government. Subsequent serious rights violations followed a deadly military crackdown on protests, which subsequently triggered a nationwide armed resistance movement and a bloody civil war.The visit is among Min Aung Hlaing’s most significant diplomatic engagements and the latest in a series of trips to neighboring countries, including China, India and Laos, as he seeks to strengthen regional ties since assuming the presidency in April. Despite visits to those countries and close relations with Russia, he has remained largely isolated internationally.While he attempts to refurbish his image, Myanmar's military continues to wage a brutal war across much of the country against pro-democracy resistance fighters and armed ethnic minority groups seeking greater autonomy.According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoner…
Min Aung Hlaing was installed as Myanmar's president in April following elections that democracy watchdogs and Western nations called a sham intended to launder the junta's image. (EPA Images pic)BANGKOK: Myanmar's ex-junta chief Min Aung Hlaing makes his first visit to Thailand as civilian leader on Thursday, as he seeks a return to the diplomatic fold for his pariah state.As a general, he led a 2021 military coup that ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a civil war estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people on all sides.He was installed as Myanmar's president in April following stage-managed elections that democracy watchdogs and Western nations called a sham intended to launder the junta's image.Neighbouring Thailand has since been leading an effort to normalise relations with Myanmar, both bilaterally and through Asean.The bloc has excluded Myanmar's leadership from high-level summits since the putsch, but its foreign minister attended an informal meeting with his regional counterparts last month in Bangkok.And Min Aung Hlaing has been on a diplomatic drive since swapping his military uniform for civilian dress, visiting India, key ally China, and Asean member Laos in turn.In the run-up to his Bangkok trip, Suu Kyi -- who remains under house arrest -- was allowed to meet a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, the first time she has been seen meeting a foreign official since her ouster.If Myanmar was invited back to Asean, it would open "a pathway for normalisation of relations with others, including western countries that have remained opposed to the military regime", said Myanmar specialist Morgan Michaels.But it had already secured recognition from India, China, Russia and Thailand, making restored ties with the regional grouping a "nice to have" rather than essential, he said.Independent Myanmar analyst David Mathieson told AFP that Myanmar's campaign for re-entry into Asean was a matter of "pure status" for Min Aung Hlaing.Myanmar's leaders have refused to buy into the bloc's so-called "five-point consensus" to end hostilities through dialogue with all sides."He wants to be seen as a responsible member of Aean in one way, then paradoxically to totally reject the five-point consensus," said Mathieson.Normalised relationsOn Thursday, Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to be welcomed by an honour …
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