U.N. envoy seeks Thai help to halt deterioration of Myanmar crisis

BLGI

17/01/2022 12:57

BANGKOK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A United Nations envoy on Monday
called on Thailand's support to prevent a deterioration in the
crisis in neighbouring Myanmar and welcomed assurances that
refugees fleeing military operations would be protected by the
Thai government.
    Noeleen Heyzer, the U.N. secretary-general's special envoy
on Myanmar, met with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to
court support for international efforts to help displaced people
and press Myanmar's junta to commit to a five-point peace plan
it agreed to with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).     
    "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.
    Myanmar's military has longstanding ties with Thailand,
which experts say has been measured with its criticism of the
junta, concerned that it could get flooded with refugees if the
army steps up operations against opponents.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2LV0U0
    Thousands of Myanmar civilians have fled into Thailand since
clashes near the border erupted after a coup last year. More
than 1,300 people are still in a Thai shelter, according to
official figures.
    Myanmar's military has been fighting on multiple fronts
since seizing power last year, cracking down with deadly force
on protests while intensifying operations against ethnic
minority armies and newly formed militias allied with the ousted
government.
    The junta has defended the operations as necessary to fight
"terrorists".
    Prayuth, a retired general who led a coup in 2014, said
Myanmar's problems were complex and its situation should be
addressed "gradually with understanding and through building
trust with Myanmar's leader."
    Prayuth told Heyzer Thailand had a "humanitarian area" and
refugees were returned only on a voluntary basis.
    Several international organisations have told Reuters they
have no access to that area.  
    Ratchada Thanadirek, a government spokeswoman, declined to
comment on the access issue, but said Thailand provides
assistance based on international humanitarian principles.

 (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing
by Martin Petty)
 ((Panu.Wongcha-um@thomsonreuters.com; +6626488658;))