Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesperson Yongyuth Mayalarp said that Thailand has received a word of support from Burma over the political situation in the country.

The Thai permanent secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Puangketkaew met with Burma’s Foreign Minister Wanna Muang Lwin in Burma on Wednesday.

Yongyuth said that Sihasak’s trip was intended to explain to Burma, who is this year’s ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) chair, the military council’s roadmap to bring Thailand back to normalcy.

“The Burmesegovernment has kept a close monitoring of the situation in Thailand because Thailand is a close neighbour and is important to Burma,” Yongyuth said.

“Burma has confidence in Thailand and is willing to support the country, especially in the framework of ASEAN and relations with other ASEAN member countries.”

China and Vietnam have also expressed support for Thailand’s new military government, authorities said on Wednesday.

The NCPO spokesman said that various international military exercises and training with Thailand remain unchanged, with the exception of the United States and Australia.

The US scrapped joint military programmes with Thailand days after the coup on 22 May while the European Union has urged the military to free political detainees and end censorship.

Australia downgraded its ties with Thailand on Saturday, imposed a travel ban on junta leaders and cut defence cooperation, the toughest measures taken by a foreign government since the change of regime.

[related]

Bangkok residents against the military coup gave flowers to officials outside the Australian embassy.

“Thank you so much for helping democracy,” said a man who refused to be named citing security concerns.

“I feel it’s dangerous for us, people who need democracy,” said another unidentified woman.

The coup was the latest convulsion in a decade-long conflict between the Bangkok-based royalist establishment, dominated by the military, old-money families and the bureaucracy, and supporters of Yingluck and her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who are adored by the poor in the north and northeast.

On Tuesday, the head of Thailand’s Department of Information, Sek Wannameetee, said that as Burma was this years’ chair of ASEAN, the neighbouring country could use its position explain the ”truth” behind the recent coup to other ASEAN members.