Visit Thailand's PM, President Prabowo Discusses Civil War In Myanmar

Presiden Prabowo Subianto (kiri) dan PM Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra (kanan) menunjukkan gesture salat saat keduanya bertemu di Government House, Bangkok, Thailand, Senin (19/5/2025). ANTARA/HO-Tim Media Presiden Prabowo Subianto.

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto and Thai Prime Minister (PM) Paetongtarn Shinawatra discussed the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar that has arisen as a result of civil war between the military and a number of armed groups since the military coup against democratic rule in 2021.

President Prabowo, when delivering a joint statement with PM Paetongtarn, stated that Indonesia and Thailand have the same interests to encourage the realization of peace in Myanmar.

Indonesia appreciates and highly appreciates Thailand's constructive role, particularly in involving neighboring countries to find peaceful solutions in Myanmar and facilitate dialogue between all parties, said President Prabowo at Government House, Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, after chairing a bilateral meeting with PM Paetongtarn.

President Prabowo then emphasized that Indonesia supports inclusive dialogue to accelerate the achievement of peace and stability in Myanmar.

At the same location, the Thai PM said his country and Indonesia support Malaysia's leadership in ASEAN to find common ground and realize peace in Myanmar.

"We have the same interest in the Myanmar issue. We will also work with Malaysia as Chair of ASEAN this year to restore peace in Myanmar and stop the war," said PM Paetongtarn.

Malaysia as Chair of ASEAN this year held the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 26, 2025. The ASEAN high-level meeting will be attended by 10 member countries, namely Malaysia as the host, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In the same meeting, Timor Leste is currently in the process of getting ASEAN full membership.

The civil war in Myanmar has been going on since 2021 after the military toppled legitimate democratic rule and arrested and detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The military coup then prompted many civilians in Myanmar to join armed guerrilla groups to fight the military, and overthrow the military junta rule. There are also several ethnic groups in Myanmar who are fighting the military for independence from Myanmar.

The crisis due to the war in Myanmar was exacerbated by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Sagaing-Mandalay on March 28, 2025. The earthquake resulted in more than 2,000 Myanmar citizens dying, and thousands more injured, and thousands of buildings destroyed.

Earthquake shocks were felt to surrounding countries, including Bangladesh, Thailand, and China.

Indonesia has sent aid packages, and deployed a search and evacuation team (SAR), as well as a medical team from Basarnas and the TNI to help Myanmar.