A Thai immigration center accused of aiding the Myanmar junta’s conscription drive deported another 200 Myanmar nationals to regime authorities in Kawthaung town, Tanintharyi Region, in late February, sparking international protests. All but four of the deportees were reportedly conscripted by the regime.
A recent investigation by The Irrawaddy exposed how the junta is using Ranong Immigration Center as a recruitment hub, forcibly conscripting hundreds of its detainees amid recruitment struggles at home.
Thailand is in a rough spot for this
Being accused of helping the rebels could bring war to them but helping the Junta could also bring war to them as that tends to happen as militaristic governments need to do something once the internal conflict is finished
Actually, all the neighbors of Myanmar have helped the rebels on their borders at one point or another DIRECTLY, in order to gain political influence. China as commies were directly funding successive generations of communist parties in Myanmar’s civil wars, and still supports the rebel militias. India was directly funding fringe rebels on their border until the Hindu nationalist gov’t took over, and they decided they’d rather have direct influence in Myanmar proper. Thais in the old days were directly helping the rebels. Now they just look away when arms are shipped to rebels, and when rebels ship drugs through their border. It’s been like this since end of WWII.
With China changing their support it’s a bit more of a look away problem
Since Ayutthaya a stable Myanmar (Burma) has been a danger
Danger to Thailand? Perhaps in the old days, not anymore. Thailand is much more powerful now. Cambodia was once a danger to Thailand in the olden days (before Thais were there). Now they are a Chinese puppet.
The growing influence is the Thai problem current
Myanmar provides a geographic buffer and while Laos is weaker so it’s a more probable spill over. It’s something to worry about
The Chinese influence in Thailand? I wonder if Thais worry about it since they’ve never had to deal with China historically on their border while Burma and Vietnam had. Now with the South China Sea the rest of Southeast Asia is feeling the Chinese threat. Except, for Thailand Malaysia and Singapore.
In speaking they don’t like China but aren’t worried
I think the threat is discussed in intelligence circles just because they should be prepared and I feel like it would become a bigger issue if China backed Junta were to consolidate power. Which is why Thailand would want to play both sides in secret
Yes there’s no need to worry for now since China isn’t on your border. I assume you’re Thai?
I’m not but there is family in Chiang Rai