A Myanmar studies expert from Kasetsart University has cautioned that the controversy surrounding GMMTV’s production, 'Scarlet Heart Thailand,' is being manipulated by nationalist factions in both Thailand and Myanmar. The dispute, centered on the alleged appropriation of traditional Myanmar court attire, is fueling xenophobic sentiments. According to Assistant Professor Lalita Harnwong, Thai nationalist groups are leveraging the situation to promote anti-migrant narratives, specifically claiming that workers from Myanmar are displacing local labor. Meanwhile, the Myanmar military regime is reportedly using the climate to encourage the return of citizens who fled the country to escape conflict and mandatory conscription. With an estimated six to seven million Myanmar migrant workers currently in Thailand, the academic warns that these escalating tensions threaten to undermine the long-standing social and diplomatic ties between the two neighboring populations.
Source : Khaosod English
Photo : Khaosod English
