Burmese Refugees in Thailand Face Fresh Deportation Threat

Refugees from Myanmar, particularly young individuals fleeing military conscription, are facing a fresh threat of deportation in Thailand. A new law, approved in August 2026, is making life increasingly precarious for those who have escaped the military junta's recruitment drives. In Myanmar, the military has intensified its conscription efforts since the 2021 coup, aiming to bolster its struggling forces. Over 30,000 young people have reportedly been drafted since February 2024. These conscripts are often deployed to the frontlines as "one-way troops," used as cannon fodder and human shields. Nway, a 23-year-old former political prisoner who fled Myanmar to avoid conscription, stated that she would be arrested and likely conscripted if she returned. She has found a community of fellow refugees and activists in Chiang Mai, Thailand. However, their safety in Thailand is far from guaranteed. Harassment and arrests by Thai police, coupled with the new deportation law, are threatening their lives. Thai immigration laws do not recognize Myanmar nationals as refugees, leaving many undocumented and vulnerable to harassment, extortion, and deportation threats from Thai authorities. In Mae Sot, near the border, reports indicate that bribes to the police are so common that Myanmar nationals are referred to as "walking ATMs." A refugee who spoke anonymously works in a garment factory in Thailand for a daily wage of around $4.50, well below minimum wage. He fears leaving his factory due to the police and the prospect of deportation back to Myanmar, where he would face conscription. Another individual, a music producer, shared that his family continues to pay bribes to Myanmar authorities to protect his siblings who have fled the country. He refuses to serve in the military and is determined to start anew in Thailand, even if it means singing for survival. Despite the hardships in Thailand, these refugees view returning to Myanmar as a death sentence. The new law exacerbates their anxieties about the future. Source: The Diplomat Indonesia