Myanmar citizens living in Thailand express no interest in voting in the regime 2025-26 elections starting on Dec. 28, according to a report titled Respect Myanmar by the Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS) group released on Dec. 22 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
“The majority of our people are forced to leave the country, with millions now in Thailand. We believe their voices reflect the true situation inside Myanmar. Furthermore, they can speak more freely about political issues here without the immediate fear for their security that they would face back home. This research captures their political perspectives loudly and clearly,” said Kristen, the BACS director.
BACS researchers visited 14 major cities across Thailand, conducting interviews and group discussions with 209 Myanmar migrant workers.
“There are threats from the Myanmar Embassy stating that if you don’t cast an advance vote, your passport won’t be renewed. Some of our own people have experienced this firsthand. Because of these situations, there is a lot of anxiety. While there is a firm desire not to vote, there are also pressures, current hardships, and fears about how much worse things might get,” said Lwan Wai, a BACS field researcher.
Respect Myanmar also highlights a growing fear that the international community, including neighboring Thailand, might recognize the military’s elections deemed a sham by most western countries.
BACS intends to continue sharing these findings to ensure that the international community and the Thai government understand the true stance of the Myanmar people when it comes to a regime election.
There are currently over 5.2 million Myanmar migrants living in Thailand, according to 2025 data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
