Thailand Welcomes Phone Call Between Detained Aung San Suu Kyi and Son

Key summary

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that Thailand views the recent phone call between detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her son as a positive development. The conversation occurred after Kim Aris, Suu Kyi's son, was permitted to speak with his mother for the first time in five years while she remains in detention since the 2021 coup. Sihasak noted that Myanmar has begun allowing visitors to see Suu Kyi and that an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) director recently confirmed her health is good. Thailand's approach involves dialogue without granting legitimacy, aiming for Myanmar to solve its own problems while neighbors offer support. Regarding ASEAN's stance, Sihasak indicated the issue would be discussed at a ministerial level before the November leaders' summit, with decisions on Myanmar's return to ASEAN left to ASEAN members based on factual assessments of changes within the country.