The Philippines’ Special Envoy on Myanmar, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, has held undisclosed talks with several of Myanmar’s Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and the military regime’s peacemaking body.
The meetings, held in Thailand, follow a highly controversial decision by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to break a five-year diplomatic freeze and re-engage directly with a senior regime official.
Secret talks in Chon Buri
On July 13, Lazaro—acting as the representative for the ASEAN 2026 Chair—met with delegates from the regime’s National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) and various EAOs in Chon Buri, located 126 km (78 miles) southeast of Bangkok.
She was joined by Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. While neither official publicly disclosed the participating groups, anonymous sources confirmed to DVB that delegates from several prominent armed organizations attended, including:
- Karen National Union (KNU)
- Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)
- Chin National Front (CNF)
- Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS)
- New Mon State Party (NMSP)
The KNU and CNF notably withdrew from the regime’s Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) following the February 2021 military coup, while the KNPP has never signed the pact.
Both the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) are pro-regime armed groups that abide by the NCA.
Breaking the diplomatic freeze
The Chon Buri talks occurred just one day after a polarizing informal summit in Bangkok. On July 12, 10 ASEAN foreign ministers sat down with the Myanmar regime’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Tin Maung Swe.
The Bangkok meeting marked the first face-to-face, high-level engagement between ASEAN and the regime since April 2021.
International and regional human rights experts have heavily criticized the meeting, warning it risks legitimizing the junta despite its complete failure to implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.
Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the peace plan in 2021, which mandates an immediate end to violence, the release of political prisoners, and inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders.
The status of Aung San Suu Kyi
A core tenet of the Five-Point Consensus is inclusive dialogue, yet the regime continues to isolate ousted civilian leaders.
On June 30, Naypyidaw formally rejected Lazaro’s request to meet with jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
During a press briefing following the Bangkok summit, Lazaro revealed that Tin Maung Swe dismissed the denial by claiming the regime views Suu Kyi as “a sister and therefore we will take care of her.”
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak countered the regime’s narrative, stating that granting the ASEAN Special Envoy direct access to Suu Kyi is essential to verify the regime’s claims regarding her health and safety.
The diplomatic progress and findings from these meetings are expected to be reported at the upcoming ASEAN summit in Manila this November.
