Myanmar
- Business News
Thai industries fear trade slump due to Myanmar conflict
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) voiced concerns over the escalating armed conflict in Myanmar, predicting a further slump in border trade and a surge in illegal workers from Myanmar into Thailand. The Thailand-Myanmar border trade, valued annually at 100 billion baht (US$2.7 billion), tends to suffer whenever conflict escalates, according to Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI. “There are…
- Thailand News
Thailand ready to host 100,000 Myanmar refugees amid conflict
Thailand’s readiness to accommodate an influx of 100,000 refugees from Myanmar, due to escalating conflicts, was recently confirmed by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara. The announcement came in the wake of rebel forces capturing Myawaddy, a border town adjacent to Tak’s Mae Sot district. The minister’s statement followed a meeting held yesterday to discuss the evolving situation in Myanmar. The…
- Business News
Chevron abandons operations in Myanmar’s Yadana gas field
In an unprecedented move, Chevron, the US energy giant, has abandoned its operations in the Yadana natural gas field in Myanmar, as confirmed by a company representative. This decision comes over two years after the corporation expressed concern about the violence and human rights violations in the military-controlled nation and declared its intention to withdraw. The 41.1% stake in the…
- Thailand News
135 Myanmar nationals arrested for illegal entry in Kanchanaburi
Police in Kanchanaburi province have apprehended a total of 135 Myanmar nationals, including four juveniles, on charges of illegal entry into the country. The arrests were made in two separate operations. Deputy commander of the provincial police, Pattarachai Korsanan, along with investigative superintendent Mana Samrarnwong, received a tip-off on Friday around 5pm from a local about a suspicious pickup truck…
- Crime News
ATPD uncovers prostitution ring in Bangkok, 16 arrested
The Thai Anti Trafficking In Persons Division (ATPD) made a significant breakthrough in their mission to combat illegal activities, apprehending 15 undocumented male workers from Myanmar and a Thai massage shop owner in the bustling district of Wang Thonglang, Bangkok. This incident took place within the confines of the bustling Lat Phrao shopping complex on March 30. A tip-off from…
- Pattaya News
Thailand police foil illegal immigration operation, 66 nabbed
Kanchanaburi‘s Thong Pha Phum police, along with immigration officers and relevant agencies, successfully thwarted an illegal immigration smuggling operation in Thailand. The operation yesterday, March 20, led to the apprehension of 66 individuals and the confiscation of four vehicles, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against illegal immigration in Thailand. The report from the police highlighted that the officers…
- Thailand News
Illegal immigration spikes in Thong Pha Phum as Myanmar nationals seek refuge
A recent surge in illegal immigration was witnessed in Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi, as 22 Myanmar nationals attempted to cross the border into Thailand on March 13. The Thong Pha Phum police, along with other authorities, responded swiftly to a tip-off about the unlawful activity. Upon reaching the specified location, the officers discovered a vacant pickup truck parked close to…
- Thailand News
Myanmar exchange student falls to death from Thailand dormitory
A tragic incident unfolded when a 26 year old Myanmar exchange student fatally fell from the sixth floor of a dormitory building in Pathum Thani province. The incident, which took place around 12.30am today, has left authorities and acquaintances searching for answers. Officials from Pak Klong Rangsit Police Station, led by investigation officer Suwat Phothiree, were notified of the fatal…
- Thailand News
Myanmar millionaires’ property buying spree in Thailand skyrockets
Myanmar’s affluent elite have emerged as the unexpected champions of Thailand’s luxury property market, outspending even their Chinese and Russian counterparts. According to real-estate moguls Colliers, high-spending buyers from Myanmar have been swooping up lavish properties across Thailand’s bustling urban landscapes, becoming the new darlings of the country’s real estate realm. Karlo Pobre, the astute deputy managing director at Colliers,…
- Thailand News
Thai opposition urges aid for Myanmar nationals fleeing conscription
The Thai government is being urged by opposition MP, Kannavee Suebsang, to extend humanitarian aid to Myanmar nationals escaping mandatory military service in their homeland. Kannavee, who represents the FAIR Party, highlighted that Myanmar’s military junta has recently paused the export of labourers to Thailand, with a usual daily influx of 700-800 workers now absent. Kannavee voiced his uncertainty regarding…
- Business News
Myanmar conflict may drive surge of workers to Thailand
The ongoing conflict in Myanmar is predicted to drive its citizens towards Thailand in search of work, according to the Employers’ Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry (EconThai). Following the 2021 military coup and the government’s urgent need to bolster its forces through conscription, Myanmar residents eager to avoid the draft may seek refuge in Thailand, potentially entering the labour…
- Thailand News
Chaos outside passport office claims lives in Myanmar
In Myanmar’s Mandalay, a rush for escape turned fatal as two lives were lost in a stampede outside a passport office yesterday. According to an AFP report, the victims, two women aged 52 and 39, succumbed to the overwhelming surge of hundreds clamouring to secure their passage out of the country, amplifying the harrowing toll of Myanmar’s societal upheaval. A…
- Thailand News
Thai military chief disclaims use of Thailand arsenals in Myanmar
Thailand’s military chief denied that the Thai military arsenal was supplied to Myanmar rebel forces. In a bid to clarify the situation, General Jaroenchai Hintao firmly refutes allegations tying Thailand’s military to the arsenal fuelling rebel fighters across the Myanmar border. Insisting on the integrity of Thailand’s defence, General Jaroenchai outlines rigorous measures in place to safeguard against illicit weapon…
- Business News
Thonburi Healthcare Group expands operations in Myanmar
Thonburi Healthcare Group Plc (THG) is set to broaden its hospital operations in Myanmar in response to the rising demand for medical treatments. The executive chief, Tanatip Suppradit, disclosed that a feasibility study on the new investment is currently underway with results anticipated imminently. In 2021, THG opted to postpone new investments due to the political upheaval caused by the…
- Thailand News
Royal Rainmaking Department struggles to control Bangkok PM2.5 levels
The Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation Department admits its efforts to tackle sky-high PM2.5 levels in Bangkok are being thwarted by the haze drifting from Myanmar. The department’s Director-General, Supit Pithaktham, sprung into action after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s directive to combat PM2.5 air pollution actively. Supit revealed that despite their daily endeavours since December to produce artificial rain, the intensified…
- Thailand News
US-Thailand talks focus on Myanmar crisis and regional connectivity
The United States and Thailand are set to engage in high-level talks on Monday, with a focus on the Myanmar crisis, a strengthening of their security partnership, and regional connectivity through Thailand’s Land Bridge project. Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who embarked on his official visit to the United States on Saturday, will meet with his American counterpart and other…
- Thailand News
Thailand vows to support Myanmar with humanitarian aid at Davos
Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, declared the nation’s commitment to supporting troubled Myanmar through humanitarian aid during the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting, which included international representatives, also featured Vice Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Parnpree emphasised Thailand’s proactive and innovative efforts to foster peace, stability, and unity in…
- Thailand News
Thai government contemplates extending humanitarian aid to Myanmar
A military source revealed that the Thai government is deliberating on extending widespread humanitarian aid to assist the vulnerable populations in Myanmar. Additionally, Thailand is considering hosting discussions with the leader of Myanmar and ethnic minority factions to resolve the country’s crisis. The Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has been engaged in conversations with Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara and the…
- Thailand News
Myanmar rescue operation frees 525 Thais from call scam gangs
A recent rescue operation in Laukkaing town, northern Myanmar, freed 525 Thais from the clutches of call scam gangs. However, only one-third of them were identified as actual victims of human trafficking. The revelation was made during a teleconference between Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn, stationed in Bangkok, and senior police officials in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of…
- Business News
Myanmar’s central bank extends deadline for exporters’ foreign earnings deposit
A mandate issued by the Central Bank of Myanmar demands exporters shipping goods beyond Asian territory to deposit their foreign earnings in domestic banks within 90 days, a significant increase from the previous 60-day requirement. The central bank, in a statement released on Monday, also directed companies exporting within Asia to deposit their earnings within 45 days, rather than the…
- Thailand News
Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as world’s opium giant
Myanmar surpassed Afghanistan to become the globe’s leading opium producer, leaving the world stunned. The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) dropped a bombshell report today, December 12, disclosing alarming figures that signal a seismic shift in the illicit drug trade landscape. Myanmar, the new opium powerhouse, produced a staggering 1,080 metric tonnes of opium this year, eclipsing…
- Thailand News
Fuel shortage causes chaos in Yangon: Is Myanmar’s economy running on empty?
As Myanmar‘s metropolis Yangon grapples with a fuel shortage, the city saw chaos with motorists queuing at dawn, hoping to secure petrol. The fuel crisis has been exacerbated by economic turmoil and geopolitical tensions. Yangon’s fuel shortage, as reported by the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, kicked off on Tuesday. The cryptic explanation attributed the crisis to delays in…
- World News
Myanmar’s Loikaw on verge of capture: Ethnic coalition intensifies attack
The city of Loikaw in Myanmar is under heavy attack, as a coalition of three ethnic armed organisations intensifies its bid to seize the last military base in the city. Despite attempts to resist, the trapped Myanmar military forces are predicted to succumb within days, as they remain heavily surrounded. The Karenni People’s Defence Force (KPDF), a coalition of three…
- Thailand News
Myanmar conflict: Thailand calls for urgent peace talks
Thailand has implored all parties involved to contribute towards the restoration of peace in the ongoing Myanmar conflict via immediate discussions. The plea was made during the annual congregation of 97 high-ranking international diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. The Thai ambassador to Myanmar, Mongkol Visitstump, provided a status update on the ongoing peace initiatives amidst the conflict…
- Thailand News
266 Thais rescued from Myanmar conflict zone, most charged for call centre scam
The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry rescued 266 Thai nationals trapped in the Myanmar conflict zone. Most of them will be charged with running a call centre scam upon their arrival in Thailand. Thai PBS reported that the Chinese authorities announced an operation to get rid of illegal businesses run by Chinese nationals in Laukkaing District, Shan State, Myanmar. To avoid the…
- Thailand News
Call centre scam alert: Thai DES ministry urges probe after Myanmar repatriation
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) in Thailand has urged the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to probe a call centre scam following the repatriation of victims from Myanmar, a country currently in the throes of conflict. DES Minister, Prasert Jantararuangtong, disclosed that 41 Thai citizens were repatriated from the embattled town of Laukkaing in the Shan State over…
- Thailand News
Seismic upheaval in Myanmar prompts call for earthquake-resistant structures in Thailand
A seismic upheaval of 6.4 magnitude rattled Myanmar and was perceptible in various regions of Thailand yesterday, prompting engineers and academics to urge the implementation of stringent regulations to ensure the resilience of structures against future earthquakes. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, originated in Myanmar at 8.37am yesterday. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department reported the…
- Thailand News
Thai military to engage Myanmar over repatriation delay
The Thai military is set to engage Myanmar over the delay in the repatriation of 41 Thai nationals who were recently rescued from illegal businesses in Laukkaing township. This was revealed today by Colonel Natee Thomsen, the commander of the Thap Chao Tak Taskforce of the Pha Mueang Force. Col. Natee plans to discuss the reasons behind the repatriation delay…
- Thailand News
Thai nationals to return from Myanmar amidst military-insurgent clashes
The return of 41 Thai nationals, marooned amidst skirmishes between Myanmar military and ethnic insurgent factions in Laukkai, a border town between China and Myanmar, is set to happen today, as stated by the prime minister. These individuals are part of a larger group of 164 Thai nationals, who were rescued by Myanmar officials from illegal employment or human trafficking…
- Thailand News
TikTok travel agency lures Thai woman into prostitution in Myanmar
The Pavena Foundation for Children and Women rescued three traumatised Thai women who suffered a mortifying experience after they were lured into prostitution in Myanmar. One of the victims was sold to a brothel after booking a holiday with a travel agency on TikTok. The victims recounted their unfortunate fate in Myanmar during an interview with Channel 3 yesterday, November…
