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.

  • RandAlThor@lemmy.caOPM
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    4 days ago

    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.

    • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 days ago

      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

      • RandAlThor@lemmy.caOPM
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        4 days ago

        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.

        • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          4 days ago

          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

          • RandAlThor@lemmy.caOPM
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            4 days ago

            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.

            • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              4 days ago

              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