Time for Prayut to back a bolder Asean response towards Myanmar

Time to act: Prayut meeting families of the nursery massacre in Nong Bua Lam Phu province. His failure to change his attitude will be damaging to the central role Thailand has long played in Asean. — AFP

PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha must be enthusiastic about attending the Asean leaders’ biannual summit in Phnom Penh next month, especially the session on measures to end the Myanmar junta’s killings and oppression.

Prayut’s nearly unconditional support for junta leader General Aung Min Hlaing has made it more difficult for regional leaders to reach decisive agreements because they know Prayut with come to Hlaing’s rescue.