Page 22 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL13

According to Mr Kavi, diplomatic relations between Thailand and Myanmar have been sour since the 1960s, when the Thai government sided with ethnic minorities in their battles against the Burmese Army.Relations have warmed over the past decade. Humani- tarian assistance from Thais after Cyclone Nargis in 2008 helped smooth the way. Thailand’s military government also facilitated the registration of over 2 million Myanmar workers in the past two years. A further sign of improving relations was when Thai delegates were invited to ceasefire discussions between the Myanmar government and ethnic groups last year.Mr Kavi, who worked as a special assistant to the secretary-general of ASEAN from 1995 to 1996, predicts that Myanmar will be a key player in the AEC.Aung San Suu Kyi may not have favourable memories of ASEAN after the Myanmar junta purged students and protesters in the late 1980s and sentenced her to long years of house arrest. The regional bloc adhered to its convenient policy of non-intervention, and it was Western democracies pleading her case and offering support. It will be interesting to watch Suu Kyi’s position on ASEAN, said Mr Kavi.“Myanmar has the capacity to be a game changer, to counterbalance China in the South China Sea,” he added.Relations have warmed over the past decade. Humanitarian assistance from Thais after Cyclone Nargis in 2008 helped smooth the way. Thailand’s military government also facilitated the registration of over 2 million Myanmar workers in the past two yearsMyanmar is among the few countries that have dared to go their own way in the face of an overbearing China, cancelling several development projects funded by China after poor environmental assessment reports and protests from local communities.For journalists with long experience with Myanmar, it is always a mistake to write off the military. The election pushed them to the side, but the military still has its own political party, Union Solidarity and Development (USD), with experience in running the country. It competed in the elections and will certainly run again in 2020.20 Elite+