A Thai diplomat has become the second foreign member to resign from an advisory board tasked with advising the government on solving the crisis in Rakhine State, citing a lack of progress and independence. Mr Kobsak Chutikul, a former member of Thailand’s parliament, stood down from the panel last week, telling an international news agency that the commission had been “kept on a short leash” and had achieved very little since it was established in January. Shortly after it was formed, veteran US politician Mr Bill Richardson stood down, calling it a “whitewash” and “cheerleading operation” for State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The board was established by the Myanmar government to advise on implementing recommendations put forward by another commission, which was headed by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and submitted its findings to the government in August last year. Former Thai foreign minister Mr Surakiart Sathirati, who chairs the commission, rejected Chutikul’s criticism, saying the government had made progress on the issues facing Rakhine State, citing an agreement signed last month with two UN agencies regarding the repatriation process. That agreement has been criticized by rights groups as lacking transparency.