UN envoy calls for Thailand’s help to stop Myanmar crisis deterioration

Discord within ASEAN over how to deal with Myanmar is delaying a crucial meeting of the region’s foreign ministers.

A United Nations envoy has called for Thailand’s support to prevent an escalation of the crisis in neighboring Myanmar and welcomed assurances that refugees fleeing Myanmar military operations would be protected by the Thai government.

Noeleen Heyzer, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy on Myanmar, made the appeal to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as the Myanmar situation increased discord within ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and caused the postponement of a ministers’ meeting set for this week.

Heyzer is courting support for international efforts to help displaced people and press Myanmar’s military rulers to commit to a five-point peace plan agreed to with fellow ASEAN members last April.

“The prime minister has an important role in preventing further deterioration of the crisis in Myanmar, where an implosion would bring further instability to an already volatile border area,” Heyzer said in a statement on Monday.

Myanmar’s military has longstanding ties with Thailand, which experts say has been measured with its criticism of the military due to concerns that it could be flooded with refugees if the Myanmar army steps up operations against opponents.

Thousands of Myanmar civilians have fled into Thailand since clashes near the border erupted after a coup last year and official figures say more than 1,300 people are still in a Thai shelter.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES