- 5 months ago
Four years after the coup, Myanmar remains in turmoil. Is ASEAN doing enough to address the crisis or are they losing credibility? We speak to ICRC’s Arnaud de Baecque and President Surin Pitsuwan Foundation Dr. Fuadi Pitsuwan on the region’s fractured response, urgent aid needs, and what comes next.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome. I'm your host, Fahna Shea, and you're watching Awani Global.
00:11Right, today we are at the sideline of the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable here at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
00:17And we are joined by our esteemed guest, Dr. Arnett De Bak,
00:21Head of Delegation in Myanmar International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC,
00:25and Dr. Fawadi Pitswan, President of Surin Pitswan Foundation of Thailand,
00:31to talk about the Myanmar crisis, to see where humanitarian response lies
00:36and what's the ongoing crisis and where it's heading right now.
00:41Thank you so much for joining us.
00:43Thanks a lot.
00:43Right, okay. So let's start with setting the scene here.
00:46So four years after the coup, Myanmar remains in turmoil.
00:50So how would you describe the humanitarian and security landscape today?
00:53And where is it most acute right now? Let's start with you, Arnett.
00:58Well, I think the landscape is very fragmented, both politically and in terms of humanitarian response.
01:06But the needs are in most of the countries.
01:10The earthquake last March added a layer of complexity,
01:14but the crisis was already in terms of economic hardship and conflict-affected populations
01:22all across the country, like in Sagan, in Rakhine, in Shan states, for instance,
01:28but in many others as well.
01:30Right. And what are some of the biggest barriers to reaching some of this vulnerable population right now
01:35if we're looking at a humanitarian landscape?
01:37Well, the challenge is to reach all people in need with a moving landscape in terms of security and access
01:48and the multiplicity of players.
01:50That's what makes it complex.
01:52Right.
01:53So you mentioned the multiplicity of players there.
01:56So I guess that goes back to you, Dr. Hoa Di, if you can share with us a little bit.
02:03You know, there's growing talks of Myanmar being balkanized right now
02:06with multiple power centers and, you know, collapsed central authority.
02:10So how does this affect political and humanitarian outcomes in the region?
02:13I think we have been discussing this possibility of Myanmar being balkanized for a while now
02:20to the point where I think we should assume that it may, it would, it is already, de facto-wise.
02:27I think Myanmar are operating in a form of what I would call a sub-state, right?
02:32I mean, different arms group control, different land,
02:36and there have been talks about them delivering some of the public health services,
02:40services that a normal state would function.
02:43And I think we in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand,
02:48I look at this issue from the Thai borders out to operate on what is actually happening, right?
02:55De facto-wise, they are already separating.
02:58And then our ability to recognize that and to pursue a strategy that fit with that reality,
03:05I think will be very important.
03:07And from the Thai side, right now, if our foreign ministry,
03:13our civilian leadership still pick up the phone,
03:16and the other side is still the leadership of the SAC,
03:20I don't know if that is the direction that we should pursue
03:23until we could pick up the phone and see ourselves.
03:27I'm talking about it as a Thai now.
03:29And then the other side can be the leadership of KNU,
03:32the other side can be the leadership of the KNPP,
03:35other ethnic resistant organization.
03:39I think that is when I think I would see some more hope
03:42in how Thailand would solve this issue,
03:47would approach this issue.
03:49I'm not saying that there's no engagement at all now.
03:52I'm talking about publicly speaking.
03:55I think what Prime Minister Anwar did to meet with the NUGs
03:59and held meetings with the EROs here in Kuala Lumpur,
04:04I think helped signal to Thailand that there are other ways,
04:07there are alternative ways to engage different stakeholders in Myanmar
04:13in a public way.
04:14The Japanese did, last year the Japanese met with the leadership
04:20of the KNU, KNPP, and NUG in Tokyo.
04:23I think some signaling like that,
04:26and if Thailand see this and see that it can also pursue
04:31the military level diplomacy,
04:35I think that will help the situation.
04:37Right.
04:38I mean, it's all about finding the best solution,
04:42either as a mediator or even as engaging with the coup itself
04:48or engaging with the people there itself.
04:51And I think I want to get back to that a bit later on
04:53in our discussion on what ASEAN as well as Thailand's role
04:57in mediation and in finding somewhat a peace solution to this.
05:03But Arna, let's get back to you on patterns or shifts
05:08in how communities are responding or adapting
05:11to this really protracted and also prolonged crisis.
05:15Do you see, you know, organizations there
05:18or civil society networks playing a bigger role
05:21in humanitarian response
05:22or in pushing for an outcome that is desirable?
05:29Well, you already have, like, strong local networks
05:32to respond to kind of first layer of humanitarian needs.
05:37And this was striking when the earthquake arrived,
05:41like local communities, local organizations, monasteries,
05:46everything was done there.
05:47But then the capacity can be overwhelmed
05:52and that's why they need to be strengthened.
05:55And an organization like myself,
05:57or we also work a lot with the Myanmar Recross Society,
06:00are trying to bring a long-lasting response
06:02to this initial response
06:04and rely on local players, local responders
06:08that have people and capacity
06:11and with a bit of support,
06:13they can do most of the response.
06:15What's concerning is that it's large-scale
06:18and in many areas and access is not always easy.
06:22Right.
06:23I think it's very interesting to have both of you here
06:25because we have on one side
06:27sort of on-the-ground picture of what's going on,
06:30you know, in reality with the people
06:32in terms of the humanitarian side of it.
06:35But on Thailand's side,
06:36a key mediator sort of with regards
06:40to achieving long-lasting peace
06:42and achieving a solution
06:43in ensuring that dialogue goes on
06:48and at the forefront,
06:50Thailand is one of those countries in ASEAN.
06:52So I think it's very interesting
06:53that I'm looking at the both of you
06:55and asking these questions.
06:57But okay, so from both of you guys' perspective
07:02when it comes to this crisis, right,
07:03what do you think is the most misunderstood
07:06about the Myanmar crisis
07:08by the international community?
07:10And what kind of framing or assumptions
07:13need to change?
07:15We can start with Poyde.
07:17I think Thailand,
07:20first I said already that Thailand
07:22has to recognize that the other side
07:24has many stakeholders
07:26and if it can recognize
07:28the leadership of the ethnic armed group,
07:31ethnic resistant organization,
07:33the NUG,
07:34on the same level as the SAC,
07:36that will be a shift in how Thailand approach it.
07:39Another which is linked
07:41to what I know deals with
07:43on a daily basis
07:45is that the Thai state,
07:46the Thai national mindset
07:48see humanitarian effort
07:51as a one-way direction.
07:53We are helping Myanmar
07:55until Thailand can shift its mindset,
07:59its national thinking on this issue
08:03that humanitarian means
08:04you help others,
08:05but that is also helping you
08:07in the end, right?
08:09Can we engage in humanitarian
08:11on a much more symbiotic term?
08:15I think that would allow Thailand
08:17to be more active,
08:19be more,
08:20and do this on a larger scale.
08:22If it sees itself
08:23with just helping,
08:24then it won't, right?
08:25But if it sees itself
08:26it's helping itself
08:27by sending vaccines
08:29across the border,
08:30by granting special licenses
08:32in certain zones
08:33so that Myanmar doctors
08:34can operate along the borders,
08:38if Thailand can engage on,
08:40can step in,
08:41US retrench on some of this funding,
08:43can Thailand do more
08:45along the borders?
08:47Can Thailand marry
08:48humanitarian effort
08:50with economic interest?
08:52There has been discussion
08:53that humanitarian effort
08:55can also benefit Thailand
08:57economically,
08:58for example.
08:59In Thailand,
09:00there are 90,000 refugees
09:02already who have been there
09:03along the borders
09:04for the past 30,
09:0640 years already.
09:08Can some special economic zone
09:10be built
09:11so that we can dissolve
09:14some of these camps
09:15and use some of this human capital
09:17to engage in some
09:18economic productivities
09:20along the border?
09:21That will solve
09:23the humanitarian crisis,
09:24help make it better,
09:26but also benefit Thailand
09:27as well.
09:28Until Thailand can get
09:29into that mindset
09:30that is just not us helping,
09:33I don't think Thailand
09:34will be willing to do more.
09:36And I think that relies
09:37on a lot of international
09:38pressure, engagement,
09:41explanation that,
09:42hey, you can be enlightened
09:44about your self-interest,
09:46help others
09:47so that even in the end
09:49it would help you.
09:50I think it's all about
09:54having a comprehensive,
09:56well-thought-out plan
09:57when it comes to dealing
09:59with crisis that is affecting you
10:01or the spillover is affecting you,
10:04but not directly.
10:05I mean, we,
10:07Malaysia also host
10:08Rohingya communities.
10:10We are one of the countries
10:10that host the most
10:11Rohingya communities.
10:12and we also fall short
10:16of having a proper plan,
10:18if I must say,
10:19of ensuring that
10:22it's a symbiotic relationship,
10:23like you said just now.
10:25But Arnold,
10:25let's go to you.
10:26What do you think
10:27are some of the assumptions
10:28that needs to change
10:30when it comes to
10:31framing of this crisis?
10:33Well, I think
10:34what you mentioned
10:35and the fact that
10:36we are together
10:36with Fuati today
10:37is a good illustration
10:38that there is a need
10:40for a political solution
10:41for the country.
10:44As the ICAC
10:45humanitarian player,
10:46we observe that.
10:48We're not involved
10:49into mediating
10:49or in any way,
10:51but we do engage
10:52with all sides
10:53during the conflict phase
10:55to make sure
10:56that international
10:58humanitarian law
10:58is promoted
10:59and respected.
11:01And we also know
11:01that while
11:02the political situation
11:04is sought,
11:05the humanitarian needs
11:06are there.
11:07And they need
11:08urgent response
11:09in terms of access
11:10to healthcare,
11:11access to clean water,
11:13access to decent housing,
11:16prisoners to be visited
11:18as we do.
11:19And that's the combination
11:21of what needs to be done
11:22urgently on a daily basis
11:23and then a long-lasting solution.
11:27Right.
11:27So sort of handling
11:28more of the immediate fires
11:30or immediate problems
11:32that may be missed
11:34or sideline
11:35that usually only
11:37those who work
11:38on the ground
11:38like you do
11:39can see
11:40and the higher-ups
11:42might not, you know,
11:43be looking into it
11:44as much
11:45from what I'm getting, right?
11:47Well, maybe they're
11:48looking into it,
11:49but it's true
11:49that it's a reality.
11:51It's from a different lens,
11:52I feel.
11:53Exactly.
11:54It's from a mediation lens
11:55as opposed to
11:56like a humanitarian lens.
11:58Exactly.
11:59And the need to respond
12:00on a daily basis
12:02is really what is striking.
12:04Right.
12:04So, okay.
12:05So looking at,
12:07not to say solution,
12:09but a way forward,
12:12I guess,
12:12how do you think
12:13ASEAN should rethink
12:15its approach
12:15to the Myanmar crisis
12:16in 2025
12:17and beyond?
12:19Because this is an issue
12:21that from time and time again,
12:23we have talked
12:23and we are nowhere
12:26near the end,
12:27I feel.
12:28So has the five-point consensus
12:31failed?
12:31And if so,
12:32what's next?
12:33Should ASEAN explore
12:34new formats
12:35like humanitarian corridors
12:36or engagement
12:37with resistant groups?
12:39Is there any other way
12:40that we can shape
12:41the way ASEAN responds
12:44to this crisis
12:45for now?
12:47Maybe we can start with you.
12:49It's really important
12:51to understand
12:52that the five-point consensus
12:54is a license to intervene.
12:57It's an achievement
12:58to arrive at that consensus
13:02at all.
13:03The problem with five-point consensus
13:05is that
13:06there's no political will
13:08after that
13:09to actually carry it through.
13:11And the expectation
13:13that a country
13:14will be able
13:14to solve this conflict
13:16another country
13:17in one year,
13:18Malaysia as chair,
13:20is not correct.
13:22So what we ought to do,
13:23and this has been discussed
13:24a lot,
13:25for example,
13:26the idea of a troika
13:27so that there can be
13:29a continuity.
13:30This is a group
13:31that those who,
13:33country who is chair
13:35at the moment,
13:36chair before
13:37and chair in the future
13:38should come together
13:39and become more active,
13:40particularly on Myanmar issue.
13:42The idea that
13:43the special envoy
13:44should be permanent,
13:45should not be yearly rotated,
13:47should be at least
13:48three to five years
13:49in position.
13:51This is to help
13:52implement
13:53the five-point consensus.
13:55And maybe there should be
13:56an implementation plan,
13:59a roadmap
13:59of what each year
14:01ASEAN should do.
14:03But that roadmap
14:03cannot happen
14:04without a vision
14:05of how you want
14:06to see Myanmar crisis
14:08being solved.
14:11But my point is that
14:12there is effort,
14:13and I hope there will be
14:14more effort
14:14to actually realize
14:16some of this
14:17five-point consensus.
14:19It has failed,
14:20but it has failed.
14:21It didn't have to fail, right?
14:22And I think that
14:23it's a good document
14:25and it's unprecedented
14:26in a lot of ways
14:27because it is a license
14:29to intervene.
14:30We talk a lot
14:30about non-interference,
14:32but this document
14:33actually allows ASEAN
14:34to intervene
14:35and I hope ASEAN
14:37will do more
14:38on this issue.
14:40And there has been
14:41lessons learned.
14:42ASEAN had been active
14:43during the Cambodian crisis
14:45in 1978.
14:47In 1997,
14:50Prime Minister Anwar Abraham
14:52talked about
14:52he launched a term
14:54constructive intervention,
14:56right?
14:56There was a lot
14:57of pushback then,
14:58but spirit like that
15:00I think should be
15:00talked about again.
15:02we had in ASEAN
15:05in 2005,
15:06we had ASEAN
15:08monitoring mission.
15:09ASEAN worked together
15:10with the EU
15:11on East Timor 1999.
15:15ASEAN,
15:15some countries
15:16in ASEAN
15:17Coalition of the Willing
15:18worked together
15:18with Australia
15:19to monitor
15:20ceasefire
15:21and peace
15:22there.
15:25In 2008,
15:26Cyclone Narkis
15:26ASEAN
15:27was very active.
15:28We sent in
15:29not only officials,
15:30but also
15:31the civil society.
15:33This is another venue
15:34that I hope
15:34Malaysia as share
15:36could explore as well.
15:38Mercy Malaysia
15:39was in Myanmar
15:40during the
15:41post
15:43in the
15:43Cyclone Relief
15:44post-2008.
15:47It is still there,
15:48still active.
15:49Is there a willingness
15:50from the Malaysian government
15:51to do more,
15:52to pursue
15:52a community-based
15:53civil society route?
15:56There was also
15:57Thai NGO,
15:58Thai civil society
15:59back then,
16:00being involved
16:00in the relief effort
16:01in Myanmar.
16:03If the political leadership,
16:05particularly Thailand,
16:06is afraid
16:07of engaging
16:08all the stakeholders
16:09publicly
16:11in order to be able
16:14to keep
16:14the communication
16:15open with the SAC,
16:17can they explore
16:18another kind,
16:19another level
16:20of engagement
16:21through
16:21civil society,
16:23supporting
16:23Thai civil society,
16:25ASEAN civil society,
16:26to do more
16:27on humanitarian terms
16:28inside Myanmar
16:29and along the borders.
16:31I think that is
16:32a venue
16:32to capitalise on.
16:34Right.
16:34I mean,
16:34you're advocating
16:35for more longevity
16:36in some of the plans
16:38that are already
16:38in place
16:39in some places,
16:41but are
16:42sometimes a bit
16:43one-off
16:44and sometimes,
16:46you know,
16:46due to lack of political will,
16:47for example,
16:48are stopped short.
16:51I think I completely agree
16:53there's a lot more
16:54that we can do
16:54as neighbouring countries
16:57and as well as a bloc.
16:59But,
16:59Anah,
17:00what do you think
17:00in terms of,
17:01you know,
17:01the plan forward
17:02for ASEAN?
17:04Maybe we could
17:05look into humanitarian corridors
17:06or engaging more
17:07with resistant groups.
17:08Is that something that,
17:10you know,
17:10being on the ground itself,
17:11do you see that happening
17:13or do you see,
17:14you know,
17:14from the bottom up,
17:17is there any approach
17:18that we can look into?
17:20Yeah,
17:20I think from the bottom up
17:21and without being involved
17:23in the political aspects,
17:25we see that
17:25one of the points
17:27of the,
17:28one of the five points
17:29is humanitarian support,
17:32humanitarian aid.
17:33And this is really
17:34the support
17:35we need
17:36for the international
17:38humanitarian law
17:38to be promoted
17:39and respected,
17:40for the access
17:41to population
17:42to be granted
17:44and for the actual,
17:45and we work
17:46with the AHA Center
17:47or the ASEAN,
17:51body for humanitarian response.
17:53We are present locally,
17:55but there again,
17:56to meet the needs
17:56in terms of access
17:57to healthcare
17:58or clean water
17:59or housing
18:00in diverse parts
18:02of the country.
18:03That's the connections
18:04we are interested in
18:05and the support
18:06we might need.
18:08And we know also
18:08that in political discussions
18:12or in solutions
18:12to solve conflict,
18:14often humanitarian topics
18:17can come first
18:18and people can agree
18:19on the transfer
18:19of detainees.
18:20The ICIC has been involved
18:21in some cases
18:23or in just like
18:24a medicine-reaching hospital.
18:27That is a first step
18:29that can help
18:29building other elements
18:32towards the goals
18:33of the ASEAN
18:34in that case.
18:35Right.
18:36I mean,
18:36I think that's certainly
18:37the hope
18:37that we can invest more
18:39and look more
18:42into solutions
18:43that are long-lasting
18:44and solutions
18:45that are more permanent,
18:48I guess,
18:49in the region itself.
18:50Right.
18:51There is one
18:52sort of a touchy topic
18:54that we touched on
18:55during the session
18:55just now
18:56that I would like
18:56to bring up.
18:58There's been a lot
18:59of criticism
18:59that ASEAN
19:00has been too shaky
19:02or divided
19:03in its response
19:03to Myanmar.
19:05You know,
19:05if you bring in
19:06the opposing views
19:07of the Myanmar junta election,
19:08for example,
19:09you know,
19:10some have called
19:10betrayal of the people's
19:13democratic aspirations,
19:14for example.
19:16Now,
19:16given this call
19:17for unity
19:17and rejection
19:18of the coup,
19:19do you think ASEAN
19:20is truly positioned
19:22to be at the forefront
19:23of resolving this crisis
19:24or has it lost
19:25credibility
19:26among the people
19:27of Myanmar itself?
19:29And I also like
19:30Dr. Foydi
19:30to answer this as well
19:32because you mentioned
19:34this new development
19:35in terms of
19:36the tensions
19:37between Thai
19:37and Cambodia
19:38that could possibly
19:40affect the dynamic
19:41in ASEAN
19:42when it comes
19:42to responding
19:43to Myanmar
19:43and the Malaysian
19:45Championship
19:45since both
19:47Mr. Thaksin
19:48and Hanset
19:48are both advisors
19:49to ANWAR.
19:51So,
19:52a lot to unpack.
19:53Maybe you can start first.
19:55I think
19:55with the precarity
19:57and instability
19:58of the Thai government,
20:00particularly Thaksin
20:01role in Thailand,
20:03position in Thailand,
20:04it is quite dangerous
20:05for the Malaysian
20:07government,
20:07ANWAR,
20:08Prime Minister ANWAR
20:10to be relying
20:11on Thaksin
20:12as a proxy,
20:13as a conduit.
20:15So, I think now
20:15it's a time
20:16to step back
20:17and really rethink
20:18Malaysian approach
20:20to this crisis.
20:22I think working more,
20:23and I know
20:24they have been working
20:24more on an institutionalized
20:26basis
20:27with the Thai MFA,
20:29with the
20:29meal-to-meal relations,
20:31I think will be
20:32the way to go.
20:33Rely less
20:35on individual
20:36leadership
20:37and personal
20:38connection,
20:39although it is important,
20:40but the fact that
20:41the person
20:42is not secure
20:44in terms of his
20:45political position
20:46within Thailand.
20:47I would encourage
20:48Malaysia
20:49to rethink
20:50in terms of this
20:51part of the strategy.
20:54In terms of ASEAN,
20:56it hurts me a lot
20:59when I see
21:00ASEAN flag
21:01being burned
21:02in Myanmar.
21:04I do think
21:04ASEAN is suffering
21:05from a
21:06reputational crisis,
21:08respectability
21:09crisis,
21:11and relevance
21:11crisis
21:12on this
21:13Myanmar issue,
21:15judging from
21:16young people's
21:17perspective,
21:19peoples of Myanmar's
21:20perspective.
21:21It's a test case
21:22of whether
21:23ASEAN could
21:24deliver on
21:25the hopes
21:26and dreams
21:26of the people,
21:27at least
21:28show to
21:29the Burmese
21:30people,
21:30Myanmar people,
21:31that ASEAN
21:32can help
21:33and is the hope.
21:35We did that
21:36during the
21:37cyclone
21:37narges.
21:39I think we have
21:40to replicate
21:40some of that
21:41political will,
21:42some of that
21:43initiative,
21:44ability to
21:45affect change,
21:47ability to help
21:48prioritize people
21:50again.
21:52Right.
21:53Arun, do you have
21:53any input on this?
21:55Well, I think
21:56on the last part
21:57of what Fadi
21:58just mentioned,
21:59yes,
21:59prioritize people.
22:01And we engage
22:01with the ASEAN
22:03state,
22:03with all
22:04states or
22:05non-state
22:06players that are
22:07involved into
22:07a crisis like
22:09Myanmar,
22:09to promote
22:10international
22:10humanitarian law
22:11and to keep
22:12the people
22:12at the center
22:13concentrating
22:15on their need
22:16now,
22:17and we already
22:17mentioned access
22:18to healthcare
22:19or water
22:20or many others,
22:22but that can
22:22go in parallel
22:23to the political
22:24solution that
22:24is sought after.
22:26Right.
22:26We have
22:27about a minute
22:29or so for
22:29one last question
22:30and let's
22:31keep this brief.
22:33What would
22:33be a sustainable
22:34humanitarian
22:35response
22:35look like
22:37in 2025
22:38and beyond
22:39for Myanmar?
22:41To me?
22:42For me,
22:43I mentioned
22:44this briefly
22:45already,
22:46is the
22:47ability
22:47to convince
22:49Thailand
22:49that
22:49humanitarian
22:50assistance
22:51will help
22:52Thailand,
22:53particularly
22:54in economic
22:56terms.
22:58There was
22:58this discussion
22:59during the election,
23:01floated ideas
23:01of what we would
23:02call
23:02humanitarian
23:03economic
23:05corridor
23:05that helping
23:07those along
23:08the borders
23:09helps Thai
23:10economy too,
23:11not just because
23:12of not only
23:13human capital
23:13but also
23:15the businesses
23:15that overflow
23:16into Thailand.
23:17Can there be
23:18a corridor?
23:19Can there be
23:19an industrial
23:21estate being
23:22set up
23:22along the borders
23:23so that we
23:24can harness
23:25all these
23:25human capitals
23:26along the border
23:27which also
23:29by default
23:30will help
23:31with the
23:31humanitarian
23:32crisis
23:33along the borders
23:34as well.
23:35When economic
23:35development
23:36issues get better,
23:36when the economy
23:38develops,
23:39people have
23:39money,
23:40they can
23:40take care
23:41of themselves
23:41better in terms
23:42of health care
23:43and all these.
23:44I think it's
23:45that ability.
23:47In Thailand
23:47there was
23:48a young MP
23:49who spoke
23:49in the parliament
23:50and said
23:50that we have
23:51to help
23:52Myanmar people
23:53because of
23:54humanitarian
23:54issue,
23:55because of
23:55democracy,
23:56because of
23:56human rights.
23:58She was
23:58attacked
23:58by the
23:59people
24:03of Thailand.
24:05But then
24:06the same
24:07narrative
24:09was said
24:09by another
24:10MP
24:10who are
24:11colleagues
24:12because of
24:12that
24:12backlash.
24:14Another
24:14MP came
24:15out to
24:16justify
24:17helping
24:18Myanmar
24:19immigrants,
24:20our
24:20Myanmar
24:20friend,
24:21on economic
24:22terms,
24:22on self-interest
24:23terms.
24:24Hey,
24:24we help
24:25our...
24:26And people
24:27throw roses
24:27at him.
24:28Then the
24:29criticism is
24:29much less
24:30when we
24:30justify it
24:31in terms
24:31of self-interest,
24:32national interest
24:33term that
24:33you help
24:34Myanmar people
24:35because they
24:35are contributing
24:36to our
24:36economy.
24:37If their
24:38health is
24:38better,
24:39the diseases
24:40won't be
24:41spread to
24:41Thai people.
24:42If you
24:43frame it
24:43in that
24:44term,
24:45I think
24:46it will
24:46be more
24:47receptive.
24:47I mean,
24:48it's not
24:48just Thailand.
24:49It's going
24:49to be
24:50extended to
24:50Malaysia as
24:51well,
24:52who's hosting
24:52refugees,
24:53and can
24:53be extended
24:54to other
24:54countries as
24:55well,
24:55who are
24:55looking at
24:56possible
24:57solution
24:58or possible
24:59way to
25:00move the
25:00needle.
25:01so I
25:02think this
25:04approach
25:05is very
25:07beneficial.
25:07The
25:07symbiotic
25:08relationship
25:08that you
25:09mentioned
25:09is very
25:10beneficial
25:11or a
25:13way forward
25:13that we
25:14can try
25:16to move
25:17this along
25:18a little
25:18bit.
25:18I'm not
25:18brief,
25:20super
25:20brief.
25:20Yeah,
25:21of course.
25:21Well,
25:21cessation of
25:22hostilities
25:22is always
25:23the best
25:24answer to
25:24humanitarian
25:25needs,
25:25but in
25:26the meantime,
25:28I think
25:28access to
25:30all people,
25:30all communities
25:31affected in
25:32a way or
25:32another by
25:33the conflict,
25:33by the
25:34earthquake,
25:35to
25:35humanitarian
25:36help
25:36through
25:37local
25:37players or
25:38the ICIC
25:40or other
25:40organizations,
25:41that's what
25:42is key for
25:42Myanmar
25:42today.
25:43Yeah,
25:44and also
25:44engagement,
25:45more
25:45engagement
25:46I think
25:46with
25:47bodies
25:48such as
25:49ICRC
25:50and other
25:51civil societies.
25:52I think that
25:52is necessary
25:53as well
25:53moving forward.
25:54But yeah,
25:56I think that
25:57pretty much
25:57wraps our
25:58discussion.
25:59This is a
26:00protracted
26:00conflict and
26:01I feel,
26:02I do hope
26:03that I'm not
26:04here again to
26:04talk about
26:05this next
26:05year.
26:07That,
26:07you know,
26:08or talk
26:09about the
26:10same thing
26:10next year
26:11so we can
26:11have somewhat
26:12a new
26:12development,
26:13positive
26:13development on
26:14this.
26:14But thank
26:15you again
26:15both of
26:16you for
26:16being here
26:17and for
26:17sharing your
26:18insights.
26:19That's all
26:19for me.
26:20I'm
26:20Fahna Sheeh.
26:21Thank you
26:21for watching.
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