Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak pointed out that Thailand will continue to urge the Myanmar authorities to ensure that the elections planned for the end of this year are conducted in an inclusive manner, allowing all stakeholders and the people of Myanmar to participate.
He emphasized that this election should be part of an ongoing peace process to promote dialogue and bring lasting peace.
"Thailand will continue to call on the Myanmar government to make the elections inclusive and to engage in dialogue before the elections."
"We also believe that the election is not the end point; it should be a part of the peace process, requiring continued efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation to achieve lasting peace."
Sihasak made these remarks in an interview with Bernama on Friday, during the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits held in Kuala Lumpur.
He mentioned that this year is a critical year for peace in Myanmar, as the outcome of the election will determine whether the country moves towards reconciliation and stability, or falls further into division and ongoing turmoil.
Despite calls from all sides to prioritize national peace and stability, the Myanmar authorities have announced that the general election will be held on December 28.
In addition, Sihasak also called on ASEAN leaders to consider appointing a resident special envoy to help resolve Myanmar's longstanding predicament.
"I think perhaps now in Kuala Lumpur is the best time, and we should seriously discuss these issues. What kind of special envoy do we need? What is the mandate? How long should the term be?"
He said that while Malaysia as the ASEAN chair is leading the discussions, Thailand will participate constructively in the talks.
He stressed that the instability in Myanmar not only negatively affects its own people, but also impacts the entire ASEAN region, including security along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Therefore, this crisis must be handled with caution to avoid affecting ASEAN's centrality and credibility.
"We must also explore how to better support the Five-Point Consensus, which has not been fully implemented yet. How ASEAN responds to this crisis will greatly influence its centrality and reputation."
The Myanmar crisis and its elections are expected to become one of the main topics at the ASEAN Summit.