Myanmar workers in Thailand have openly expressed their boycott of the election, with only a few hundred casting votes. They say it is a puppet show to legitimize the military government. Academics view it as exacerbating internal problems and forcing more migrants to flood into Thailand.
While Thailand is moving forward toward its general election in 2026, with political parties announcing candidates and campaigning, a neighboring country, Myanmar, is also preparing for elections starting on 28 December. This will be the first election since the military coup in 2021.
Amid rumors of the death of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and accusations that this election is a Sham Election, or a puppet election, which is neither free nor fair but merely an attempt to legitimize the military government. Over 200 people opposing and criticizing the election have been prosecuted for obstructing the vote.
The structure of Myanmar’s parliament follows the 2008 constitution, which grants significant roles to the military, consisting of
The upcoming Myanmar election in three phases, will not be held nationwide due to ongoing civil war and incomplete military control. Voting will take place on 28 December 2025, 11 January, and 25 January 2026 in about 145 constituencies out of 330 under military control.
Nearly 60 political parties have registered candidates, mostly small parties or those aligned with the military. Only six parties have candidates nationwide, along with 29 ethnic parties.
The six nationwide parties are: Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), considered the military’s nominee party, with many former high-ranking military officers and ministers in Min Aung Hlaing’s government running, expected to win. . Others include the People’s Party led by U Ko Ko Gyi, People’s Pioneer Party led by Daw Tet Tet Khaing, Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party led by Sai Ai Pau, Arakan Front Party led by Dr. A Hmung, and Kachin State People’s Party led by Dr. Tu Ja.
These are not new parties but have had limited popularity and mostly maintain close ties to the military regime. Meanwhile,
the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the former ruling party, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under the military government’s new political party law. Voices from Myanmar workers in Thailand
Myanmar workers are the largest migrant group in Thailand, with 2,932,768 registered out of 3.6 million total migrant workers. They are a key economic force. Therefore, Myanmar’s election results and internal situation inevitably affect Thailand, such as recent influxes of war refugees and increased migrant workers due to military conscription policies. Thairath Online’s special team spoke with
A, a Myanmar worker in Chonburi Province, who revealed that regarding the upcoming election, Myanmar workers in Thailand show almost no enthusiasm. There is no interest, including from himself, viewing it as a non-transparent election. He believes less than 5% of Myanmar people will vote, mostly families, close associates, and military supporters. “We do not vote because we know it is pointless. Even if we vote, the military government will win anyway. Also, we feel the election is unfair, and the party we support no longer exists. The existing parties seem ineffective.”
He compared the atmosphere with the 2020 election, which was completely different. He said then Myanmar workers from all over Thailand hired buses to vote at the Myanmar embassy, filling Sathorn Road.
“In 2020, Sathorn Road, where the embassy is located, was packed with workers, barely walkable. Workers traveled from distant places like Hat Yai, Pattani, Ranong by bus. Even from Chonburi, I got home at 2 a.m. But this time, hardly anyone voted in Chonburi.”
He believes that after the election, the military will remain in power and will continue neglecting Myanmar workers’ welfare in Thailand, probably worsening it. Over the past five years, there have been tax measures; after the election, stricter regulations restricting rights and freedoms may be introduced.
Election pressures increase migration into Thailand
explained that the Myanmar election is not nationwide. The country is divided into 330 townships, with over 50 having no elections. Even where elections occur, voting may be limited to urban areas only. The reason elections cannot be held everywhere is ongoing heavy fighting, even in areas not controlled by ethnic armed groups, such as Sagaing Region in central Myanmar, predominantly inhabited by the Bamar ethnic group, which is a key center of opposition to the military government. Since announcing the election, fighting has intensified rather than decreased.
Dr. Sirada believes the election and intensified fighting may cause more Myanmar people to flood into Thailand through irregular migration, avoiding dealing with the government. Those already in Thailand likely will avoid returning home, resulting in many falling outside official systems — a challenge for Thai authorities to manage.
“An election organized by the military government will not alleviate the migration crisis from Myanmar to Thailand because it is neither free nor fair and will not lead to real reform but rather greater consolidation of power. The impacts from Myanmar will continue and increase.”
Data shows that since the 2021 Myanmar coup, migration has become more mix-motivated — not just economic migration to work but fleeing war and seeking livelihood.
Additionally, military conscription by both the government and armed groups has increased young Myanmar men and women fleeing to Thailand. It is believed that after the election, the military government will use it to legitimize stricter management of migrant labor at both origin and destination.
Early voting in Thailand was held on 6-7 December in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with only a few hundred voters out of an estimated 4 million Myanmar people in Thailand, clearly showing the election lacks acceptance.
Beyond domestic politics, geopolitical competition is also at play, with China’s involvement in mineral resources, as well as Russia and Belarus engaging in large-scale development projects such as special economic zones and nuclear power plants, potentially causing other types of displacement for Myanmar people.
Source: Excerpts from the seminar “Opportunities for Thailand through Comprehensive Management Strategies for Migrant Workers,”