Stateless refugees from Myanmar in Thailand

Abstract

Since the first major influx in 1984, Thailand has witnessed a steady stream of refugees from Myanmar entering its borders. Many of these refugees live in camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Despite having large numbers of refugees, Thailand does not have an established legal framework to deal with them. In recent years, the Thai government has proposed the establishment of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a Special Administrative Zone (SAZ) in Tak Province; a province that houses the largest number of Myanmar refugees, living in refugee camps, in Thailand. This case encourages readers to analyse the Thai government’s proposals through the lens of a Cost Benefit Analysis.