Bangkok: Nikorndet reveals that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is joining hands with Indian academics to participate in the Myanmar elections. The collaboration aims to create a sustainable peace process and campaign for equal participation among ethnic minorities. Thailand is also encouraged to take the lead in solving the scammer problem.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Nikorndej Plankul, Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the initiative following a meeting between Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and academics from India. A significant portion of the discussions focused on Myanmar’s internal politics. With both Thailand and India sharing borders with Myanmar, the two nations exchanged views and agreed on the necessity of fostering lasting peace in Myanmar. They also considered the roles of China and the United States within Myanmar. It was concluded that Thailand and India should actively engage in the forthcoming Myanmar elections, set to occur in four weeks, to initiate the peace process.
The Thai delegation emphasized the importance of comprehensive participation in the elections, aiming to ensure ethnic minorities are included. The goal is to achieve free and equal elections in Myanmar, with both Thailand and Cambodia striving for positive outcomes and success.
Mr. Nikorndej underscored the shared vision between Thailand and India for constructive engagement with Myanmar, involving not just the military government, but also ethnic minorities and other stakeholders.
Indian academics addressed the issue of scammers, noting that many individuals in India have fallen victim to these schemes. India is ready to collaborate with Thailand to tackle this problem. The academics emphasized the importance of international cooperation to manage this global issue effectively. They also called for the involvement of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in combating the issue, suggesting the establishment of a permanent mechanism for detailed information exchange between security forces to ensure a systematic and sustainable solution.
Moreover, Indian academics consider Thailand as the most suitable nation to address the scammer problem, as it serves as a transit country for illegal immigrants and is heavily impacted by fraud. They appreciate Thailand’s initiative to address the problem through international cooperation and express India’s readiness to support these efforts. They anticipate India will play a significant role in future efforts to combat scammers, given its extensive information resources.