Myanmar’s resistance forces engage with ASEAN Special Envoy amid renewed peace talks push

Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) and prominent ethnic armed organizations have engaged in direct discussions with regional diplomats, following a controversial series of informal meetings between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the regime in Naypyidaw.

The flurry of diplomatic activity highlights a renewed push by neighboring countries to address the crisis in Myanmar since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, though resistance groups remain firm on their demands for genuine, inclusive political dialogue.

NUG urges broad stakeholder engagement

On July 15, the NUG released a statement confirming that its Foreign Minister, Zin Mar Aung, held a video conference with Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, the Philippines’ Special Envoy on Myanmar representing the ASEAN 2026 Chair.

During the call, Zin Mar Aung emphasized that any effective implementation of ASEAN’s faltering Five-Point Consensus—a 2021 peace plan calling for an immediate halt to violence and the release of political prisoners—must include a “broad range” of stakeholders.

She noted that Lazaro’s recent, unprecedented direct meetings with ethnic armed groups would provide ASEAN with a clearer understanding of the complex political realities on the ground in Myanmar.

EAOs and the meetings in Thailand

The NUG’s diplomatic engagement directly follows closed-door talks held between Lazaro, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and several prominent Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) in Thailand.

On July 15, the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF)—an umbrella political body encompassing several major resistance groups—confirmed that its members had met with Lazaro. The participating groups included:

• Karen National Union (KNU)

• Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)

• Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)

• Chin National Front (CNF)

The SCEF swiftly issued a statement clarifying the nature of the meeting. It emphasized that their discussions with Lazaro were held strictly “separately” from the July 13 meeting with the regime’s National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) in Chonburi District.

The SCEF stressed that their engagement did not constitute a formal political dialogue or negotiation process with the regime.

Instead, the SCEF used the platform to reiterate its core demands, calling on ASEAN to enforce the Five-Point Consensus and pressuring regime leader Min Aung Hlaing to end violence against civilians, release all political prisoners, and allow unhindered humanitarian aid into conflict zones.

Thailand offers to mediate

The meetings reflect a growing consensus among regional diplomats that the prolonged civil war has reached a stalemate.

During a press briefing on July 15 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak stated that both regime officials and resistance factions now agree there is “no military solution” to the conflict that has raged since the 2021 coup.

He announced that Thailand is prepared to actively facilitate future peace talks and provide a secure venue for inclusive dialogue.

A controversial thaw with the regime

The engagement with resistance forces appears to be a balancing act following intense international backlash against ASEAN.

On July 12, regime Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe attended an “informal” meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Bangkok. The invitation marked a highly controversial break from the bloc’s five-year policy of excluding senior regime officials from high-level summits due to their failure to halt atrocities.