Nearly 700,000 Myanmar nationals enter Thailand in 2026; Min Aung Hlaing makes first ASEAN visit to Laos

Nearly 700,000 Myanmar nationals enter Thailand in 2026 The U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on June 23 that 687,000 Burma nationals entered Thailand through border crossings in the northernmost provinces of Tak, Ranong, Kanchanaburi and Chiang Rai from January to April. The report added that 11 per cent of migrants were considered long-term entrants, with six per cent citing conflict and military conscription as a reason for migration. Burma’s conscription law, which requires men aged 18–35 and women aged 18–27 to serve in the military for up to two years, was enforced on Feb. 10, 2024. It, along with the impact of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Burma in March 2025, contributed to the migration. Based on interviews with 3,504 respondents, IOM found that 41 per cent reported not having any official documentation to enter Thailand. IOM estimates that a total of 4.6 million Burma nationals are living in Thailand with 64 per cent registered with the Department of Employment (DoE) and 36 per cent in “irregular situations.” A market report in May stated that Burma nationals living in Thailand spend over 221 billion THB ($6.75 billion USD) annually, suggesting that Thai businesses focus on building trust with consumers from Burma. Min Aung Hlaing makes first ASEAN visit to Laos Burma and Laos signed a joint feasibility study on a hydropower project with an installed capacity of up to 2,790 megawatts along its shared border on the Mekong River on Saturday. It was signed during Min Aung Hlaing’s three-day visit to Vientiane which began on Friday. This is also his first trip to a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since assuming the presidency on April 10. The trip comes after Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Min Aung Hlaing to “strengthen bilateral relations” between Naypyidaw and Minsk on July 2. ASEAN has not endorsed the results of the regime’s 2025-26 elections that ended on Jan. 25, which excluded opposition parties and ended in a landslide victory for the military-proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). But ASEAN has started re-engaging the regime with Malaysian and Thai Foreign Ministers Mohamad Hasan and Sihasak Phuangketkeow making trips to Naypyidaw. Min Aung Hlaing seized power during the Feb. 1, 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) administration led by Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered protests that have morphed into an uprising against military rule. Backlash after denying Special Envoy access to Suu Kyi Min Aung Hlaing’s regime in Naypyidaw is facing renewed international criticism after rejecting a request by the ASEAN 2026 Chair the Philippines’ Special Envoy to Burma Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro to meet with jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi—a move human rights advocates and the ousted leader’s own family say violates international law. Zar Li Aye, a Thailand-based Myanmar human rights lawyer, told DVB that the regime’s refusal to grant access to both outside observers and family members is a direct violation of international prisoner standards She pointed to the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners—known as the Nelson Mandela Rules—which mandate that prisoners be allowed regular communication and visits with family. News by Region ARAKAN—Four prisoners of war were killed by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on a detention facility run by the Arakan Army (AA) in Maungdaw Township on Thursday, residents told DVB. Maungdaw, located 96 miles (156 km) northwest of the state capital Sittwe was seized by the AA in 2024. Maungdaw residents claimed that two fighter jets and a Y-12 aircraft dropped bombs on the detention facility in Kyein Chaung village, which houses regime troops taken prisoner by the AA. Airstrikes that were carried out on a Border Guard Police (BGP) post on July 1 forced residents to flee from their homes for safety. CHIN—The Chin People’s Army (CPA) — an alliance of Chinland Defense Force (CDF) units based in southern Chin — stated on Thursday that it has killed “hundreds” of regime troops and detained an undisclosed number of them during fighting over control of Mindat and Kanpelet townships. SAGAING—Thousands of residents in Katha Township have fled their homes along the Irrawaddy River due to airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force since June 26, a source told DVB. No casualties have been reported. Katha is located 223 miles (359 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa. The source added that retaliatory airstrikes have targeted resistance forces, which attacked two Burma Navy ships sent to reinforce regime positions in Kachin State’s Bhamo Township. Fighting over control of Bhamo between the military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) began on Dec. 4, 2024. Watch our latest report on DVB English News YouTube or Spotify. Listen on Apple, Audible, Amazon Music, or wherever you get podcasts.