The Thai government is continuing to repatriate illegal Myanmar migrants back through its Ranong border post to Kawthaung Town in Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region.

As soon as the migrants are returned the Myanmar authorities immediately conscript many of them straight into the army.

Ko Naing Aung Aung, the Chairman of the Arakan Workers Organisation (AWO) said: “The Thai Government continues to hand over detainees to the junta fully aware they will be subjected to conscription and extortion, which is considered a violation of international law. This is an utterly horrific situation.”

In the latest repatriation from Ranong, the Thai authorities transferred 200 Myanmar citizens who had been held at detention centres in Ranong Town to the junta, on 24 February 2025, according to Thai media.

Ranong Immigration Office's Facebook page stated that between April 2023 and December 2024, a total of 2,446 Myanmar citizens were handed over to the junta from Ranong.

A family member of a young man who was conscripted after being repatriated from Ranong said: “My younger brother was arrested and jailed in Thailand. After completing his prison sentence, Thai authorities repatriated him from Ranong to Kawthaung Town. Soon after, the military contacted us, demanding five million MMK to prevent him from being drafted for conscription. Our family sent the money, but instead of being released, he was sent to military training.”

In September 2024 the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), an advisory body of the National Unity Government (NUG), called on the Thai government to reconsider its deportation process. It also said that repatriating young people who have fled the junta's human rights abuses to Myanmar is equivalent to a death sentence, as they are often forcibly conscripted once handed over.