Myanmar military commander pens letter to Thai PM

Myanmar military commander is opening a line of communication with Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha detailing why a coup was staged to seize power after a democratic election in the state.

Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing explained why the Tatmadaw had to stage a coup and asked for help to support democracy. He alleged that fraud took place in the November 8 democratic election. The country’s electoral commission had dismissed the army’s complaints of fraud. Prayut responded by saying he always supports the democracy of Myanmar, but won’t interfere with its internal affairs.

“At the very least, we are supportive of the democratic process in Myanmar, while what we also have to do is maintain relations (with Myanmar) as well as possible because that will benefit all Thai people and border trade (with the neighbouring country). Thailand supports the democratic process. The rest is up to him to see how to proceed.”

Prayut says the issue is sensitive but warned that he was not supportive of anti-Myanmar coup protests inside Thailand. Hundreds of Burmese people recently gathered outside the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, joining their home country in the largest anti-coup demonstration in over 10 years.

Last week’s coup saw Aung San Suu Kyi‘s house arrest, after being voted in officially as a State Counsellor in a landslide democratic victory for the National League for Democracy on November 8, 2020. Her arrest now comes after being accused of illegally possessing walkie-talkie radios.

Her supporters say the reason for the arrest is bogus and are challenging the coup that has brought a halt to a unstable 10 year road to democracy. Anti-coup clashes on the streets of Myanmar have led to a woman being shot and critically wounded in which the USA and UN condemned the military’s use of force against the protesters. That woman, according to her doctors, is not expected to survive. One youth leader, Esther Ze Naw, says those who are against the coup cannot stay quiet.

“If there is bloodshed during our peaceful protests, then there will be more if we let them take over the country.”

Thousands of demonstrators took to the main city of Yangon, or Rangoon, which included hundreds of government workers and a group of policemen from the eastern Kayah state. The large protests have prompted the military to issue a night curfew and restrictions on gatherings in the state’s larger cities.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post