Criticised by the West for seizing power,
Thailand's army said Friday that it had won the backing of Myanmar's military,
which ruled the country for decades.
BANGKOK:
Criticised by the West for seizing power, Thailand's army said Friday that it
had won the backing of Myanmar's military, which ruled the country for decades.
The
Thai Armed Forces Office said in a statement that Myanmar's visiting army chief
Min Aung Hlaing was "confident that the Thai military's actions are
appropriate".
"The
military's crucial mission is to protect national security and public
safety," he was quoted as saying.
A
smiling Min Aung Hlaing was photographed wrapping his arms around Thailand's
Supreme Commander Thanasak Patimaprakorn in a friendly embrace.
He
later held talks with Thailand's coup leader and army chief General Prayuth
Chan-ocha, but did not appear before the media to make a public declaration of
support for the junta.
Former
military-ruled Myanmar has been lauded for its dramatic reforms after a
civilian government took power in 2011.
Thailand's
coup makers meanwhile have been chided by the United States and the European
Union for grabbing power from an elected government in May, spurring the junta
to strengthen ties with Asian neighbours instead.
The
Thai military has curtailed civil liberties, banning public protests, while
also seeking to "return happiness" to the people with measures such
as free film screenings and television broadcasts of World Cup matches.
During
Friday's talks, Thailand assured the Myanmar general that it would take care of
migrant workers from the impoverished country, after an earlier threat to
arrest illegal labourers triggered an exodus of Cambodians.
- AFP/xq
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