Invited by Leading Thai Think Tank to Speak About My Life-long Commitment to Help Build Lasting Peace in Myanmar (2)

The text of my keynote speech at the Thailand Security Dialogue 2025 organized by the National Defence Studies Institute (NDSI) on August 31 continues from the previous blog:

 

“How then can such a conflict be resolved? History shows us two possible approaches: resolution by force, or resolution through dialogue. While strong force can compel submission, I cannot support such an approach. Instead, what will be important is to have non-official negotiations where different ideas and opinions will be gathered as consensus. 

 

From my own experience, the people of Myanmar are proud people. So instead of giving patronizing lectures or advice, we must seek honest exchanges through dialogue. This can only be realized by first listening carefully to their arguments. 

 

Whether it is with the military, the EAOs or others, trust can only be built after establishing the foundation of trust. Lasting solutions cannot be achieved through arguments of ‘this is what must be done’ by insisting what is ‘right’ or through diplomacy that merely relies on titles and authority. And as I mentioned earlier, it is very important to realize that the situation in Myanmar is not a simple binary conflict but rather a uniquely multifaceted struggle.

 

For this reason, I see my role not as a protagonist, but as a facilitator of dialogue among the parties themselves. A mediator must not be the main player; rather, it is our responsibility as third parties to create opportunities for direct exchange, without imposing our own solutions. Lecturing from above does not resonate in Asia. This is especially true in Myanmar, a country whose people are proud and dignified. The only way to resolution is to think together, and step by step advance toward a better outcome, however long it may take.

 

I do not claim that my approach is perfect. But I firmly believe that the only way forward is to earn trust quietly and patiently. Respecting the pride of the people and providing a forum for dialogue is the responsibility of mediators. For this reason, except for publicly agreed outcomes, I have never disclosed the content of any negotiation. 

 

I call this approach, following the example of the great Swedish diplomat Gunnar Jarring, “silent diplomacy”. This “silent diplomacy” has brought about a number of well-earned results: these are the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement signed with 8 EAOs under President Thein Sein in 2015; further ceasefire agreements with 2 EAOs under State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in 2018; the unilateral and unconditional ten-month “Christmas ceasefire” declared unilaterally by the military with the KIO in the same year; and two successive ceasefires with the Arakan Army in 2020. 

 

However, to be honest, there have been many occasions when everything had gone well, new developments arose and, like a tower of building blocks collapsing, our efforts we had built up were reduced to nothing. Yet my principle is to “never give up”. No matter how many difficulties may arise, it is important not to give in to pessimism, but to continue with a future-oriented spirit, tackling the challenges again and again with persistence. Since these are problems created by human beings, I believe there is nothing that human beings cannot ultimately resolve. 

 

And above all, even though Myanmar is now facing one of the most difficult periods in its history, I have great hope because all the people of Myanmar are united under one direction. That is the shared aspiration, among the EAOs and the entire population, to establish a democratic federal state. I believe this is the greatest source of hope for Myanmar. 

 

As I mentioned at the beginning, Thailand hosts not only many displaced people but also leaders of the EAOs. Without Thailand’s cooperation, peace in Myanmar will be extremely difficult to achieve. I am therefore determined to work more actively than ever together with the people of Thailand to help realize lasting peace in Myanmar. Thank you very much.”

 

(End)