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“What we should understand is that [Burmese people] have supported Thai society a lot. I can say that with our Myanmar friends being here, Thai society could really develop at lighting speed!” exclaims Don Tajaroensuk, a human rights advocate. “When I talk with [Burmese migrants], actually, they really don’t want to make any problem for Thailand. They feel thankful to Thai society for letting them live safely. They don't want to disturb the country, they don't make any problem. They want to pay taxes! And they are already part of our society. If we have more respect towards them, then our country will be better.”
When Don was just five years old, his mother frequently hosted children who would stay for varying periods at their home—some for a few weeks, others for months, and one even stayed for two years. These guests were refugees, staying only temporarily as they were being processed to a third country; but as a child, Don didn’t fully understand their situation. He still remembers them fondly today, particularly one named Manuel, who became like family, playing football and sharing daily activities with him.
This all made more sense to Don when he was 20 years old, and finally learned what his mother, Chalida Tajaroensuk, does for a living: she is a prominent Thai human rights defender, with decades of experience advocating for peace, human rights, and democracy across Asi. “I realized that she's working for human rights for a long time, since I was really young. The days she did not come home, she’s going somewhere or to some country to work for human rights and democracy.” Chalida currently serves as the Director of the People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF), where she supports marginalized groups, including refugees and migrant workers, particularly from Myanmar. Her advocacy work often focuses on improving relations between Thai authorities and vulnerable communities, and she has been involved in arranging humanitarian aid, advocating for refugee rights, and promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts along the Thai-Myanmar border.
In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the prestigious Order of Timor-Leste in 2019 for her solidarity in advocating for human rights in the region. “Some people say that she's like the mother of independence,” her son quips, before adding, “Democracy is not just one country’s perspective, but about all the people connected together. So now, even though we focus on Thailand, we also work with our friends in Southeast Asia. She believes that good policies should come from the people. Good policies should come from the ground.”
Thailand has long been a major destination for refugees fleeing conflict and persecution, particularly from neighboring countries. “Thailand is one country that has the highest influx of migration in and out,” he says. “Many foreigners who come to Thailand are seeking safe places, like asylum seekers and migrants, they come to Thailand.” Over the decades, besides Myanmar, the country has hosted significant numbers of refugees from countries experiencing political turmoil, armed conflict, and human rights abuses, such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Thailand has also taken in refugees from distant countries, like Pakistan and Syria, further highlighting its role as a hub for displaced populations.
Yet in spite of this, there are real challenges that await those hoping to find a refuge there. Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention (a point made on a recent episode with Rosalia Sciortino). As a result, refugees in the country often face legal uncertainty, lack of rights, and the constant threat of deportation. As a result, many refugees live in a precarious situation, reliant on humanitarian aid and the hope of resettlement in third countries.
Don adds that Thai media reports disproportionately on crimes committed by Burmese migrants, which has led Thai society to fear them. His own experience in high school was that many of his peers held negative views towards migrants. Yet by virtue of his rather unique upbringing and home environment, he understands that migrants in Thailand are often in difficult situations, seeking safety and better opportunities, and deserve support rather than fear or prejudice. “All human beings are the same,” he says. “We should respect all human beings, and if you want world peace, then we should connect and not hate each other.”
After getting his Bachelor’s degree, Don’s first foray into activism involved advocating for the plight of Rohingya refugees in Thailand, and he expresses his dismay for how cruelly they were being viewed. “If you think you cannot do anything to help them, at least don't say that they are not human!” he exclaims. “They just want to live like humans, it’s really basic. They just want to work to have a small room to live, no need to be big or luxury, they just want to have simple life.” This work spurred a deeper interest in activism, and a chance encounter with the director of a South Korean NGO led to an invitation to join a Global NGO Master’s program in Gwangju, South Korea, which specializes in supporting democracy in Southeast Asia. Through his studies there, Don learned from both academics and activists, deepening his understanding of xenophobia, particularly how it affects migrant workers. He explored how even people within the same country or nationality can have negative attitudes toward one another, exacerbated by social and economic challenges. This experience made Don question why “national identity” does not automatically include feelings of solidarity with and compassion towards all those who share it. And given that reality, expecting empathy towards others—in particular, “outsiders”—to naturally occur is unrealistic. He continues to reflect on these themes, which animate his current work of trying open the hearts of his fellow Thai people towards migrants and refugees. He believes that intentional, educational efforts at building empathy are essential.
For example, Don argues that Thai authorities need to understand the struggles of undocumented migrants and work on solutions to integrate them into society more humanely. He notes that many are highly skilled, with some even having received scholarships, yet they are unable to move freely or access basic rights due to their undocumented status. So Don advocates for the Thai government to offer not just basic living conditions, but also dignity and opportunities for a fulfilling life.
Myanmar has always been of interest to Don, as his mother has been deeply invested in the country’s future since the 8888 Uprising of 1988. Back then, when Burmese students started fleeing the military’s violent crackdown, she rushed to the border to help in any way she could—as she did again following the most recent coup in 2021. Don stresses the urgency of getting Thai authorities to understand the pressing need for aid for those escaping conflict, while also trying to organize peer-to-peer dialogues to educate the wider Thai society (much like the initiatives Sanjay Gathai described in his interview). Don’s advocacy is geared not only to changing policy and attitudes, but also to addressing immediate, practical needs on both sides of the border; for example, he notes that under current law, it is hard to even send desperately needed medicine across the border.
Don has published a series of articles to highlight these issues, and is now working on producing a documentary to highlight these issues, even though he’s sadly observed that Thai audiences don't usually engage with the content. He believes this stems from the lack of personal connection between the two communities, which makes it harder for them to empathize or take interest. He proposes creating programs that foster direct interaction between Thai citizens and refugees along the Thai-Myanmar border. Through shared experiences, he believes Thai people would develop a deeper appreciation of the refugees' plight, leading to greater engagement with media on these topics. However, one of the main obstacles to such initiatives is that Thai law often views refugees as illegal migrants, making it difficult to organize such activities. Despite this, Don is determined to try and find ways to build these meaningful connections.
The Thai border town of Mae Sot serves as a key entry point for Burmese migrants and refugees, particularly those in dire situations (a topic that Kenneth Wong addressed at some depth on a recent episode). While the official Thai government position is that entry without proper documentation is not permitted, an unofficial system exists where people can pay brokers and police for various privileges, such as staying in Mae Sot or traveling to other provinces. “It's based on how you deal with the officers, not on the laws,” he says, adding that it all comes down to how much in the way of bribery one can afford— certainly not an easy situation for any person who is already displaced. It’s worth nothing that Phil Robertson, of Human Rights Watch, has echoed these concerns, emphasizing that Burmese refugees in Mae Sot face an exploitative system where not just money, but outright corruption plays a significant role in determining their fate, making their lives even more precarious amidst already vulnerable conditions.
And the situation there has become even more distressing. Don describes an influx of severely wounded individuals from recent fighting, some of whom had lost limbs or suffered grave injuries like being shot in the eye. Makeshift clinics—often just simple, wooden structures—are thrown together to provide care for them. Don emphasizes that in and around Mae Sot, these humanitarian efforts need to be carried out discreetly (as Shalini Sri Perumal recently shared) for safety reasons. Although this is not a story covered by Thai media, these war victims continue to pour across the border; Don’s heart goes out to them, wishing he could do more.
Amid the challenges, Don is optimistic about the younger generation of Thai activists. He notes that previous generations had built strong networks, and now young people are building on their efforts. Don feels that the values of human rights, democracy, and compassion for all are being successfully passed on to the younger generation through peer-to-peer learning—the older generation shares their experiences, allowing younger activists to innovate and find better ways to continue the work. “We still have hope, and people are more interested,” he says. “At least the connection is really strong for me, and then in the future we can have some progress.”
Don closes by once again expressing his wish that his country can be a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds. “I just want Thai society to understand that when our friends come to Thailand, that is the last choice for them, to be leaving their life. They actually don’t want to make anything bad for our country, they just come [to escape] emergency situations. They really need support, and if you cannot help them, try to understand the situation. Please, at least don't hate them. Don't have any bad attitudes towards them. When you see our Myanmar friends, you can go to talk with them! They are very nice. Just go and try to understand more, to talk and try to understand from the real people. It is the first step actually to world peace: wanting to understand peoples’ connection.”