The Myanmar coup is a chance for the Thai government to prove its democratic credentials by openly declaring solidarity with the people and condemning the military take-over, a US-based association of Thai citizens said.
The Association for Thai Democracy of the United States (ATD) spoke of “extreme disappointment” towards the latest developments in Myanmar, and said it was “disheartening” to see the country “sinking back into the darkness of authoritarianism,” in a Facebook post Monday.
The ATD was founded to mobilize support for democratic transition in Thailand, in support of the protests that broke out in 2020.
Political and trade sanctions were needed to stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar, and to defend democracy against the junta there, the group said.
“Our thoughts are with the people of Myanmar,” the statement read, “whose constitution has been trampled upon by tanks and whose basic rights have been taken away by guns.”
The letter pointed to the solid victory by Aung Saan Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in November’s elections, and said the fear of reform may have prompted the military, or Tatmadaw, to act. “It is clear that the coup was an explicit attempt to preserve their vast interests to which the generals and military elites feed upon,” the group wrote.
“It is unfortunate that General Min Aung Hlaing has chosen fear over freedom,” the statement continued, referring to the country’s new de-facto leader.
The ATD called on Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha to show sincerity and allyship with the people of Myanmar in standing for democratic rights and reforms. After all, “our government has proclaimed to be democratically elected,” it wrote.
Only through reason, rather than force nor fear, can civilized societies resolve conflict and ultimately drive their nations forward, the letter concluded.