2024 07 19 FCCT Lunch with Rangsiman Rome of Move Forward Party

Rangsiman Rome, in his role as chairman of a Thai parliamentary committee on national security, has been working on proposals to reform border security, particularly on issues concerning Thai-Myanmar relations.
Under his chairmanship, the committee is currently scrutinizing Thai banks and companies that have facilitated weapons procurements by the Myanmar military regime. This followed a recent report by a U.N. expert that highlighted the growing involvement of Thailand in financing junta-related companies.
The report, by U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews, found a surge in the business transactions, facilitated by Thai banks, for the acquisition of weapons and related materials to the Myanmar junta by companies registered in Thailand.
While the banks, in a hearing last week, have denied the accusations but admit that they lack the capacity to investigate all transactions that could be helping the Myanmar junta, the committee has ordered the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Bank of Thailand, Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Foreign Ministry to report back within 30 days with recommendations for further actions.
Rangsiman is also seeking an explanation from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on the matter.
To hear more about future scopes of the committee that include plans for security force modernization along the border, as well as other issues concerning Myanmar migration, please join us at the FCCT clubhouse for a lunchtime talk.
Speaker: Rangsiman Rome, Move Forward Party Members of Parliament and chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and National Reform.
Moderator: Panu Wongcha-um, Reuters senior correspondent and FCCT vice president.