Photo: Scand Asia
While the issue of military conscription in Myanmar has been escalating for some time, authorities in the neighbouring country of Thailand have been arresting and taking action against illegal entrants. The intensified inspections and arrests of migrant Myanmar nationals living in Thailand have also caused widespread uproar and chaos.
To strengthen the troop strength, the military junta enacted the People’s Military Service Law and related regulations, stipulating that in the event of an emergency situation arising across the entire country or in certain regions for the defence and security of the state, all adults of conscription age must serve in the military. As a result of this legislation, many young people have been attempting to evade military service by fleeing to safer places, with the neighbouring country of Thailand becoming a key destination. Young individuals are entering Thailand through various means, while Thai authorities are continuously carrying out arrests.
Thai authorities arrested 169 Myanmar migrant workers who were smuggled into Thailand in a cargo truck at a location on the highway in Kanchanaburi province. Among those arrested were 102 men and 67 women. 1
In Phop Phra district of Tak province, 21 undocumented Myanmar nationals were also arrested, including 15 men and 6 women. 2
In addition, Thai police arrested 4 Myanmar teachers who were teaching without permission at a temple on Ko Pha Ngan Island in Surat Thani province. The school had over 190 Myanmar children studying there, including the Myanmar teachers, and Thai authorities also confiscated 31 textbooks printed in Myanmar language. 3
On 18 February, Thai authorities also inspected the office of the Aid Alliance Committee (AAC), an organization providing free assistance to Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, and ordered them to close their office and pay a fine. When Thai authorities arrived at the AAC office, they found 86 unemployed Myanmar migrant workers staying there, despite being sent through the official bilateral MOU agreement with the military council. They were charged with violating Thai laws. 4
Meanwhile, those arrested by Thai authorities and deported are being targeted by the military junta for forced recruitment. This has put Myanmar citizens in a situation where they are “suffering twice over.”
On 24 February, Thai authorities deported about 200 Myanmar workers who had served various sentences from Ranong port in southern Thailand to Kawthoung in Myanmar.
However, instead of being sent back to their homes, they were reportedly taken by junta soldiers for military service and are undergoing medical examinations at Light Infantry Battalion 431 in Kawthaung. 5
1 Nearly 170 Myanmar nationals smuggled in cargo truck arrested in Thailand, KIC, 1 Feb 2025
2 Over 20 undocumented Myanmar nationals arrested in Thailand, RFA Burmese, 29 Jan 2025
3 Thai authorities raid school teaching nearly 200 Myanmar children, RFA Burmese, 29 Jan 2025
4 Thai authorities shut down AAC office helping migrant workers, Mizzima, 19 Feb 2025
5 About 200 Myanmar workers recruited by junta after being deported by Thai authorities, People’s Spring, 27 Feb 2025