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Myanmar junta leader's Thailand visit criticized amid earthquake aftermath

The junta continues attacks against rebel groups in quake-affected areas, and UN rights chief says humanitarian access is being restricted.

By RFA Burmese and Pimuk Rakkanam for RFA
2025.04.04

BANGKOK -- Human rights groups protested the Myanmar junta leader's visit to Bangkok for a regional summit Friday as the military continued to bomb earthquake-affected areas despite announcing a ceasefire with resistance armies.

The junta announced a 20-day ceasefire on Wednesday, which was followed by ceasefire offers from a major rebel group, the Arakan Army, and the exiled civilian National Unity Government, comprised of members of the democratic government ousted in a 2021 coup.

But airstrikes and military checkpoints have hampered rescue efforts to retrieve the bodies of over 3,000 people killed and more than 4,000 injured in the 7.7 magnitude quake last Friday, according to residents. The quake caused heavy damage across Shan state, Sagaing, Mandalay and Naypyidaw regions.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Friday the military has carried out at least 53 attacks, including strikes by aircraft and drones, artillery and paramotors in areas affected by the earthquake.

At least 14 attacks by the military have been reported since the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday, he said in a statement from Geneva.

"The junta attacked us by air from March 31 near Singu township. Now, on April 3, they bombed again near Thabeikkyin," said a member of a rebel militia in Mandalay region's Pyinoolwinin township.

"When we're already in trouble, they keep bombing by plane to make it worse," he told Radio Free Asia, adding there were no casualties. No insurgent soldiers had instigated attacks, he said.

Other residents and insurgent groups have reported similar unprompted attacks in Bago region and Sagaing region, the epicenter of the earthquake.

The Mandalay region's junta spokesperson told RFA he didn't know about military affairs.

"I don't know about military operations. Thabeikkyin is far from us," he said. "I don't know if the military is doing anything there."

Similarly, junta paratroopers bombed six villages across Sagaing region's Kani and Yinmarbin townships on Thursday, residents said.

The bombs injured a 60-year-old woman in Yinmarbin township and damaged several stupas in Kani township, said one resident living in Kani, declining to be named for security reasons.

"On the night of April 3 at 9:30 p.m., in the eastern part of Yinmarbin, Hnaw Pin, Kyauk Hmaw and Inn Bet villages, five of them came and dropped bombs," he said.

"For one woman, both of her legs were hit."

Min Aung Hlaing comes to Thailand

The clashes coincide with military leader and self-appointed president Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand for a summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, known as BIMSTEC. The organization is a forum of seven nations including India, Thailand and Myanmar.

The military chief was greeted by a banner reading "We Do Not Welcome Murderer Min Aung Hlaing!" hung on a bridge next to the venue at Bangkok's Shangri-La Hotel.

International rights organizations criticized Thailand for permitting the visit while the International Criminal Court is investigating junta crimes against Myanmar's Rohingya minority. An Argentinian court has separately issued arrest warrants for Min Aung Hlaing and dozens of other junta officials.

"The regional body is tarnishing its image by welcoming a war criminal that has been committing horrific international crimes and led a coup attempt in 2021," advocacy group Justice for Myanmar said in a statement.

"Min Aung Hlaing is under sanctions, while being investigated by the International Criminal Court for international crimes committed against the Rohingya," it said.

In his statement, the U.N. rights chief Turk said that the military was limiting humanitarian operations in quake-hit areas of Sagaing region, Bago and Shan state, and has continued its drive to conscript civilians into the military's ranks, forcibly recruiting able-bodied young people assisting the rescue efforts.

"Sources from the ground describe a catastrophic humanitarian situation in earthquake-hit areas, especially those outside the military's control, an absence of relief efforts, and a lack of clean water, food, and medicines," the high commissioner said. "Fear and shock have augmented the suffering of a civilian population already subjected to four years of military violence since the coup."

Neighboring Thailand has continued to work with Myanmar's military administration while supporting humanitarian aid and promoting the possibility of peace efforts among the many rebel groups controlling areas of the country.

"It's hard for Thailand not to invite Myanmar," international relations expert Panitan Wattanayagorn told RFA. "Thailand and India may have a chance to discuss relief operations."

Thailand has enough influence to push for an effective ceasefire while Western nations would prefer to see Myanmar isolated so it faces pressure to negotiate with rebel groups, Panitan said.

Skirmishes in eastern Myanmar have not only pushed thousands over the border into Thai refugee camps, but economic devastation and controversial conscription laws forced roughly 1.4 million migrants into the neighboring country in 2024 alone.

Rampant scam centers, human trafficking and soldiers crossing the porous border to escape conflict have also complicated relations between the two neighbors.

The summit, Panitan said, "is a chance for Thailand to discuss the mutual border troubles, propose a peace plan and draft a ceasefire agreement."

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Stephen Wright and Taejun Kang.

Kunnawut Boonreak from BenarNews contributed to this report.

Updates with comments from UN human rights chief.

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