Thai minister sees progress after Suu Kyi’s first family call in over 5 years

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Saturday welcomed Myanmar’s decision to let Aung San Suu Kyi speak with her son, ending a family-contact gap of over five years, a Bangkok Post report said.

The Oct. 22 contact gives Bangkok a diplomatic opening as the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations weighs how to engage a Myanmar government whose leaders have been barred from high-level summits since the 2021 coup.

Sihasak described the call as a sign of progress and said Thailand’s engagement with Myanmar had produced encouraging signals, according to the report.

“However much pressure is applied, if they do not want to act, they will not act. If Myanmar sees the benefits of returning to Asean and opening dialogue with opposition groups, we, as its neighbour, will give support,” Sihasak said.

Kim Aris, Suu Kyi’s son, is based in Britain and wrote on Facebook Thursday that he had been allowed to speak with his mother. Images accompanying the post appeared to show him outside Myanmar’s embassy in London, the report said.

A photo caption in the report said Suu Kyi spoke from Myanmar while Aris was at Myanmar’s embassy in London on Oct. 22. The image was credited to a Myanmar presidential spokesperson handout via Reuters.

Suu Kyi is under house arrest in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s capital, according to Myanmar authorities cited in the report. She has been held since the military removed her from power in 2021.

Myanmar authorities have recently publicised what they describe as eased conditions for Suu Kyi, including photos of private meetings, as her supporters demanded proof of life, the report said. The authorities said she was moved from a Nay Pyi Taw prison to house arrest in April and released images in August of her meeting an International Committee of the Red Cross representative.

Atlas360 reported in August that the Red Cross meeting was Suu Kyi’s first confirmed external contact in nearly four years. Atlas360 also reported that month that Myanmar’s military-backed government had rejected ASEAN’s demand to free her and signalled it might restrict the ASEAN special envoy’s role.

Sihasak said Myanmar’s crisis must ultimately be resolved inside the country, while Thailand could provide advice and support. He said Myanmar would be discussed at ASEAN ministerial meetings and at an ASEAN summit, and that the bloc would assess recent developments before deciding its next steps.

“Thailand is ready to support assessing progress. If there are signs of improvement, Myanmar should be brought back. However, the timing is a matter for Asean to discuss,” Sihasak said.

ASEAN has excluded Myanmar from high-level summits since the coup to press its leaders to take part in the bloc’s conflict-resolution plan. Thailand hopes Myanmar can return to the regional grouping, the report said.