A prolonged stalemate in fighting between the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups for control of Myawaddy, a strategic Myanmar town bordering northern Thailand,  could be a turning point that may pressure the warring parties to contemplate mediation, said Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Sihasak recalled that China in early January this year stepped in to help negotiate a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and an alliance of ethnic minority armed groups in northern Myanmar.

“A stalemate could be a turning point that pressures both sides to consider a mediation in a fashion similar to how the China did with the situation in northern Myanmar,” he told Thai PBS World in an interview.

The alliance, made up of the TNLA, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and the Arakan Army (AA), agreed to the ceasefire with Myanmar military following fighting that raged across the northern Shan state since October last year. China brokered the peace talks that took place in Kunming, Yunnan province that borders Myanmar.

After weeks of fighting, fighters from the Karen National Union (KNU) and its alliance have captured the last of the Myanmar army’s outposts in and around the strategic town of Myawaddy, a strategic town bordering Mae Sot District of Tak.

Myanmar reinforcements are reported to be attempting to regain lost grounds. But there has been a lull in the fighting since Monday amid reports that the two warring sides were holding talks.

“If the stalemate continues we need to consider how Thailand can play a role in mediating between the warring sides to end the violence,” he said.

Speaking to reporters while visiting Mae Sot District on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said Thailand is ready to act as a mediator in the conflict and help bring about a comprehensive resolution to the fighting in Myanmar.

He said initial discussions had already taken place with the various conflicting parties in Myanmar and that Thailand is working with ASEAN to help resolve the crisis.

In his interview with Thai PBS World, Sihasak said Thailand has been communicating with both the Myanmar military and the anti-government forces on Thailand’s readiness to help mediate the ongoing conflict.

“Thailand is ready to serve as a bridge and to provide facilities for them to sit down for talks. But what is important is that they must be ready to have dialogue,” he said.

However, Sihasak said Thailand and ASEAN will need to work together to send a strong signal to all sides in Myanmar that they need to end the fighting and talk.

He also called on ASEAN to demonstrate more unity and take on a more active role in helping to end the ongoing violence in Myanmar.

By Thepchai Yong