The Bright Future group and Myanmar nationals in Thailand gathered outside the UN to protest Min Aung Hlaing's visit, opposing diplomatic ties. They labeled his government as a dictatorship and highlighted demands to resolve labor issues.
Regarding the official visit of General Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief, to Thailand on 6-7 August 2023 to continue bilateral cooperation, including security, economic collaboration, and cross-border issue management, with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul,
today (6 Aug 2023), Mr. Wira Saengthong, leader of Bright Future and a Myanmar-born resident in Thailand, along with other Myanmar nationals, gathered in front of the United Nations (UN) Thailand office from 1:00 to 4:00 pm to demand and protest against the diplomatic ties between Myanmar and Thailand, while advocating for the protection of migrant workers' rights in Thailand.
Wira, leader of Bright Future, and Myanmar workers assembled to express opposition to the Thai government's reception and diplomatic relations with General Min Aung Hlaing and representatives from the State Administration Council (SAC), viewing them as a coup-installed government that seized power and kills its own people.
Protesters believe that by choosing to cooperate with those stained by the blood of their people, the Thai government not only undermines its human rights stance internationally but also enables Myanmar's military dictatorship to exert cross-border power to exploit and oppress migrant workers fleeing hardship to seek refuge in Thailand, especially through the Certificate of Identity (CI) process.
Corruption and exploitation through the CI center neglected by the Thai government
Mr. Wira revealed that currently, Myanmar workers in Thailand face systematic exploitation, involving collusion between Myanmar's dictatorship and vested interests in Thailand as follows:
1. Forced extortion through the banking system (25% money transfer rule)
The Myanmar military government has imposed a regulation requiring workers in Thailand to transfer at least one-quarter (25%) of their foreign currency earnings every three months to family accounts via banks approved by the military regime. This is a condition for renewing work permits every four years and is viewed as forcing workers to finance the military's purchase of weapons used to kill civilians back home.
2. Illegal broker networks at CI centers
Beyond exploitation by the military government, Myanmar workers also face “broker gangs” who extort additional under-the-table payments of 1,000-3,000 baht per person without receipts to access the CI center services. Those refusing to pay are barred from the process, even if they have booked appointments and paid official fees legally.
Beyond the labor crisis, Bright Future condemned the Myanmar military government’s actions, including civilian bombings, village burnings, mass arrests, and torture of political dissidents—continuous war crimes. The ongoing unrest caused by Myanmar's military has led to refugee waves and fostered transnational crimes, including drug trafficking and call center scams.
Finally, Bright Future demands the Thai government to implement the following proposals:
1. End relations with the military dictatorship Thailand must cease cooperation, reception, and legitimization of General Min Aung Hlaing and his government. The Thai government should stand with the Myanmar people, not with war criminals.
2. Abolish use of Certificate of Identity (CI) Thailand should recognize workers' rights to work and reside by issuing work permits using only the “pink card” without requiring certification from Myanmar’s embassy controlled by the military dictatorship. This would break the economic benefit chain that the dictatorship gains from Myanmar workers’ labor in Thailand.
3. Prepare to recognize the legitimate administrative authority of the Myanmar people and support future self-governance structures.