BANGKOK, Thailand — A new report has accused the Thai government of providing a critical “diplomatic bridge” to Myanmar’s military junta, helping to legitimize a regime responsible for widespread atrocities.
The report, titled “Beyond the Sham Election: Rebuilding the Bridge to Peace in Myanmar,” released by Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD), details extensive engagement between Bangkok and Naypyidaw. It tracks over 270 meetings and events involving Thai officials, security agencies, and business interests with the junta between February 2021 and April 2025.
Of the 270 recorded interactions, approximately 240 involved Thai government ministries and security apparatuses. Furthermore, the Thai government reportedly played host to 101 meetings where junta representatives were present.
“While the junta continues to commit atrocious crimes, Thailand’s sustained engagement risks legitimizing a proxy government designed to deceive the global community,” Ko Naw Aung, Director of Defend Myanmar Democracy, told MPA.
According to the data, the Thai Embassy in Yangon has been the most active channel for these communications, recording 56 separate engagements over the four-year period following the 2021 coup.
The findings highlight Thailand’s role as one of the junta’s closest partners within ASEAN, alongside Cambodia. This relationship often appears to bypass the regional bloc’s official “Five-Point Consensus,” which sought to isolate the military leadership due to its failure to cease violence.
The DMD report urges international governments and ASEAN members to reject any legitimacy gained through the junta’s planned “sham elections.”
Advocates are now calling on Bangkok to pivot its diplomatic efforts toward Myanmar’s federal democratic forces and legitimate representatives who are working toward a peaceful, inclusive future.
“International governments must refuse to engage with entities formed through illegal and fraudulent election processes,” Ko Naw Aung said. “Instead, they should engage transparently and officially with the pro-democracy forces that truly represent the people of Myanmar.”
The Thai government has previously defended its “quiet diplomacy,” arguing that its long shared border with Myanmar necessitates direct communication to manage security, migration, and economic stability. However, critics argue this approach provides a lifeline to a regime that remains largely shunned by the West.
