Myanmar nationals inject $6.7 billion annually into Thai economy
At least four million Burma nationals living in Thailand spend over 221 billion THB ($6.75 billion USD) annually, according to a new market report titled “The Myanmar Market in Thailand 2026: Surpassing 221 Billion Baht” published by consultancy firm Happio on Monday. It found that this represents around 65 per cent of the total collective income earned by the diaspora from Burma in Thailand.
The report added that migrants and others from Burma working and living in Thailand have “evolved into a sophisticated consumer market with disposable income from a low-cost manual labour market.” It found that 17.4 per cent, or 59.2 billion THB ($1.81 billion USD), of total consumer spending went to food and beverages and 13.8 per cent, or 46.8 billion THB ($1.43 billion USD), into housing.
The report suggested Thai businesses focus on strategies rooted in cultural understanding and building community trust with consumers from Burma before the market becomes highly competitive. Thai media reported that Burma nationals purchased 1,968 condominium units in 2025, second only to Chinese buyers, who acquired 4,940 units. Read more
Military accused of forced youth conscription
The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), a network of current and former lawmakers advocating for human rights across Southeast Asia, issued a statement on Monday condemning the regime in Burma’s increased use of abductions and forced conscription of youth into the military. APHR called it “stealing a generation” over two years after the conscription law was enforced on Feb. 10, 2024.
“Min Aung Hlaing and his troops are stealing a generation, [their] own people in Myanmar, for their desperation to preserve power,” Mercy Chriesty Barends, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives and the APHR chairperson, stated in a press release on May 25. “They are stripping young men and women of their freedom, and their right to live in dignity. This is in clear violation of international laws,” she added.
APHR said that conscripts are deployed directly to active frontlines with very little training, which means they’re effectively being used as human shields. APHR called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community to take urgent action to stop forced conscription. It urged neighboring countries, including Thailand, to halt deportations of Burma nationals and uphold the principle of non-refoulement ensuring the safety of youth fleeing Burma.
Min Aung Hlaing to visit India amid ongoing crisis
India’s Foreign Affairs ministry reported on Thursday that Burma’s regime leader Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to visit India May 30 to June 3 and will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 1. Min Aung Hlaing was initially scheduled to participate in the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, which was postponed, so his visit was switched to an official one, according to India.
This would be Min Aung Hlaing’s first foreign visit since he was inaugurated as president by a pro-military parliament on April 10 following “sham” elections that ended on Jan. 25. Salai Dokhar, the founder of the civil society group India for Myanmar, told DVB that its members and Burma nationals living in New Delhi plan to protest against Min Aung Hlaing during his visit.
The visit coincides with renewed international pressure on Naypyidaw. On May 26, the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi—comprising representatives from India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia—issued a joint call for an immediate end to violence against civilians and the release of political prisoners in Burma. Read more
Read our latest DVB English News op-ed: Myanmar’s generals are betting on rare earths and President Trump
News by Region
MAGWAY—Residents in Myaing, Pauk and Gangaw townships told DVB that the delivery of food, medicine and electronic devices have been blocked by the military in Pakokku Township, the region’s largest city, since May 17. The four towns are 105-223 miles (168-358 km) north of the region’s capital Magway.
A Gangaw Township resident told DVB that basic food items have been in short supply for the last 10 days. Myaing, Pauk and Gangaw have been partially controlled by the People’s Defence Force (PDF) under the National Unity Government (NUG) and allied resistance forces following the 2021 coup.
MON—Twelve members of a resistance group named after its leader, Ye Belu, were killed and over 20 others injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on their camp in Ye Township on Wednesday. A military source told DVB that at least 20 bombs were dropped. Ye is located 95 miles (152 km) south of the state capital Mawlamyine.
A resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that there was no active fighting between regime and resistance forces in the area at the time of the airstrikes. Following the attack, pro-military social media accounts quickly circulated claims that Ye Belu himself was among the 12 casualties. Read more
NAYPYIDAW—A member of the Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF) told DVB that a Russian production team will visit Burma for five days to produce a documentary film on “Burma’s scenery” in late May or early June. The MTF is a private body for promoting tourism established in 2011.
The source added that the regime’s Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture tasked the MTF with facilitating travel arrangements and guides for the production team during a meeting held in Naypyidaw on May 21. A 90-day visa-free travel scheme between Burma and Russia began on Jan. 27.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,210 MMK)
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