For decades, Thailand has navigated a complex and often contradictory relationship with Myanmar, particularly when it comes to handling refugees and humanitarian crises. According to Thai humanitarian worker and advocate Mic Chawaratt, “There is no other issue in Thailand that has this long of a history of civil society engagement like Myanmar.”
The recent surge in displaced persons following Myanmar’s 2021 coup has brought renewed urgency to the situation, highlighting Thailand’s delicate balancing act between humanitarian concerns, national security, and political self-interest. Despite hosting large numbers of Myanmar nationals since the 1980s, Thailand has never signed the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not formally recognize refugees. Instead, it relies on informal and inconsistent policies, with camps along the border offering shelter but no legal status.
Thai civil society organizations have stepped in to fill the gaps, creating what Mic describes as a “parallel system” of care and protection. These border-based NGOs, activist networks, and local communities have been the main drivers of long-term support for Myanmar people, even as government policy continues to shift.
Officially, Thailand avoids taking sides. It engages with ASEAN mechanisms and speaks about humanitarian corridors, but behind the scenes, it maintains relations with the Myanmar junta and avoids engaging with the National Unity Government (NUG) or ethnic armed organizations. This approach, which Mic refers to as “proxy diplomacy,” means that Thai civil society must operate carefully within domestic constraints and international expectations.
The result is a precarious existence for displaced people. Those in camps live in limbo, denied mobility and legal recognition, while urban refugees and migrants face the constant threat of arrest, exploitation, and deportation. Their treatment often depends on their location and access to donor-funded programs, creating an uneven and unstable humanitarian landscape.
