Myanmar’s military junta has informed neighboring countries, including China and India, that it plans to hold elections next year, according to Thai officials, Bloomberg reports.
This announcement came during an informal meeting in Bangkok on Thursday, hosted by Thailand, which underscored the urgent need for a return to normalcy in the conflict-ridden nation.
Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Swe briefed diplomats and representatives from Thailand, China, India, Laos, and Bangladesh on preparations for the planned elections, according to Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa. These preparations, he explained, include a population census and the registration of political parties, currently numbering 53. The junta also indicated its intention to invite international election observers from neighboring countries.
The meeting marks the first time a representative from Myanmar’s junta has been invited to such a regional gathering, reflecting a renewed effort by neighboring nations to address the ongoing crisis. The junta’s pledge to hold elections — delayed by over two years — has been met with skepticism from rebel groups and Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
Since the 2021 coup led by Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar has been embroiled in widespread conflict, with the economy severely impacted and ethnic armed groups gaining ground in the north and west. The junta’s ability to maintain power remains uncertain.
The six-nation meeting emphasized the shared interest of neighboring countries in a peaceful, stable, and unified Myanmar. Participants agreed that all parties within Myanmar must cease violence. The meeting is intended to complement broader efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to resolve the crisis, with ASEAN foreign ministers scheduled to meet in Bangkok on Friday to review the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus aimed at ending the civil war.
Thailand, sharing a long border with Myanmar and relying on it for significant oil and gas supplies, is leading diplomatic efforts. Ongoing clashes between the junta and ethnic minority militias and pro-democracy fighters continue to force people to seek refuge across the border, posing challenges for Thai authorities. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reports that over 6,000 civilians have been killed since the coup, with around 21,000 remaining in junta custody.
