Thai member of parliament Anusorn Tamajai made global headlines after shouting down Myanmar regime leader Min Aung Hlaing during his official visit to Thailand’s parliament in Bangkok on Aug. 7.
‘For Peace, for Humanity, for the Myanmar People’
“I shouted [at] Min Aung Hlaing, the coup d’état leader, during his official visit to Thailand parliament. And I think Thailand parliament is a [symbol] of democracy. It is not suitable to officially welcome the dictator of Myanmar at Thailand parliament. And I shouted for peace and for humanity for the Myanmar people,” Anusorn explained.
Before being escorted away by parliamentary security, Anusorn intended to present a formal petition directly to the Myanmar 2021 military coup leader.
“I would like to submit my proposal to the leader of Myanmar to show the problem of political conflict and civil war in Myanmar,” Anusorn told DVB, outlining core demands that included an immediate end to military bombing raids along the Thai-Myanmar border, adherence to the democratic principles of the 21st Century Panglong Agreement, and the release of political prisoners, especially jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
He added that the vast majority of Thai lawmakers were kept in the dark about the reception, noting that non-elected factions organized the visit quietly to evade public and parliamentary debate.
Anusorn also expressed strong opposition to recent diplomatic outreach by regional leaders, including the Thai government’s reception and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s bilateral talks with Min Aung Hlaing in Kuala Lumpur.
“I call for the implementation of ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and concrete action to restore peace and democracy… But recently, the Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim held discussion with General Min Aung Hlaing in the capital of Malaysia. And I think this is not the solution, not the way that ASEAN should follow,” Anusorn told DVB.
He characterized Min Aung Hlaing’s diplomatic travel as a calculated effort to escape economic sanctions and obscure ongoing military atrocities, such as Sept. 28 airstrikes in Arakan State that killed 50 civilians, stating: “This is the tactic, his tactic to survive from the economic sanctions because the economy of Myanmar is very bad now, especially the economy of the elite of his regime.”
Reaffirming his commitment to using parliamentary mechanisms to support Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement, Anusorn offered a final message of solidarity to those resisting military rule: “The people of Myanmar suffer for too long and suffered under cruel authoritarian regimes. And I think we need to unite the people of Myanmar and the people around the world that fight for peace and democracy… It takes time, but we need to keep fighting. Finally, we will have a free and peaceful Myanmar at last.”
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