Topic: 2025 – Situation in Myanmar
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Asher Stein
Delegate: Asher Stein
School: East Grand Rapids High School
Topic: Situation in Myanmar
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, Myanmar has faced one of the most severe political and humanitarian crises in Southeast Asia. The Tatmadaw’s overthrow of the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) triggered widespread resistance, followed by the formation of the National Unity Government (NUG) and the escalation of armed conflict across the country. Decades-old ethnic grievances resurfaced as numerous Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) gained territory and influence. As of 2025, the junta controls only a fraction of the country, and Myanmar’s civil war has intensified alongside worsening humanitarian conditions, particularly after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in March 2025 that killed thousands and displaced millions. Foreign involvement, resource competition, and obstruction of humanitarian aid have further destabilized the region.
As Myanmar’s immediate neighbor sharing a 2,400-kilometer border, Thailand has long been directly affected by Myanmar’s internal conflicts, including refugee flows, cross-border displacement, and disruptions to trade and border stability. Over the past decades, Thailand has hosted hundreds of thousands of Myanmar refugees, including ethnic minorities fleeing military violence. The renewed conflict has already pushed more civilians toward Thailand’s borders, creating security, humanitarian, and economic challenges. Thailand has also maintained economic, diplomatic, and security relations with Myanmar’s authorities while balancing the need to protect civilians and ensure regional stability. Border provinces such as Tak, Mae Hong Son, and kanchanaburi have been particularly impacted by refugee movements and cross-border fighting.
The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the coup, called for an end to violence, and urged the restoration of democratic governance in Myanmar. General Assembly resolutions emphasize humanitarian access, protection of ethnic minorities, and the prevention of atrocity crimes. The UN has also stressed that all parties must respect international humanitarian law and allow unhindered delivery of aid, particularly after the 2025 earthquake.
Thailand believes that resolving the crisis requires inclusive dialogue, regional cooperation, and humanitarian prioritization. Thailand supports increased UN assistance to ensure humanitarian corridors, monitoring mechanisms, and protections for displaced persons. Thailand calls for strengthening ASEAN’s role, especially the five-point census, to facilitate negotiations and reduce the risk of foreign escalation into a proxy conflict. Thailand further advocates for a future federal democratic framework in Myanmar that guarantees autonomy and safeguards the rights of all ethnic minorities, ultimately, Thailand believes stability can only be achieved through respect for human rights, de-escalation of armed conflict, and a coordinated international effort focused on peace and humanitarian relief.
Works Cited:
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/a-hrc-59-57-myanmar-report-auv_0.pdf
https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/319-myanmar-coup-ethnic-conflicts.pdf
https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/b180-myanmar-ethnic-autonomy.pdf
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/japanese-journal-of-political-science/article/can-regime-change-improve-ethnic-relations-perception-of-ethnic-minorities-after-the-2021-coup-in-myanmar/A367225652E7C06BD624ABE2B89A7C17
