Asean holds summit in Laos as Thailand floats new plan for Myanmar crisis

VIENTIANE, Laos — Southeast Asian leaders met in Laos on Wednesday (Oct 9) for a summit expected to find ways of tackling a worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand set to propose a new path for a political solution after a regional peace effort made scant progress.

Chaos has prevailed in Myanmar since a 2021 military coup sparked a nationwide rebellion and a civil war that has ravaged the nation of 55 million. The ruling junta has so far refused to hold talks with its opponents, whom it calls terrorists.

Thailand offered this week to host an "informal consultation" of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in December to try to find a way out of the intractable conflict that has displaced millions of people.

"We want to see a political solution," Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesperson of Thailand's foreign ministry, told reporters.

"Thailand is ready to coordinate with all other member countries so there would be a concerted Asean effort that could lead to peace in Myanmar."

Thailand's initiative would complement existing Asean peace efforts, but may not immediately involve countries beyond the region, he added.

The proposal, floated at Tuesday's meeting of Asean foreign ministers, comes as the bloc runs low on options to tackle the Myanmar crisis.

There has been no progress on its "Five-Point Consensus" peace plan unveiled months after the coup, or a drive by Indonesia to persuade anti-junta groups to start dialogue.

In previous months, Thailand has suggested that Myanmar's other influential neighbours, China and India, might play a role in the peace effort, but the latest plan is limited to the Asean bloc.

Any decision on whether Myanmar's ruling generals or their opponents would be