Since revolutionary forces took control of Mese Township, on the border with Thailand in Karenni State, on 24 June 2024, locals have been increasingly using the Thai baht currency.

The value of the Myanmar kyat (MMK) has steadily decreased since the February 2021 Myanmar coup. Since then the Thai baht has also been increasingly used in Mese Township. Initially it was mainly business owners using the Thai baht, but now ordinary people are also choosing to use the Thai baht in preference to MMK.

A Mese Township resident said: “Due to the complete devaluation of the Myanmar kyat, it is now rarely used. Now, [use of] Myanmar kyats (MMK) has become almost non-existent. The use of Thai baht (THB) has become more widespread in Mese Township.”

Before the coup Mese Township relied on goods coming both from inside Myanmar and from Thailand. However, since the coup, many roads from central Myanmar to Mese Township have been blocked. This has led to an increase of imports from Thailand to Mese Township.

The main imports from Thailand are industrial oil, basic foodstuffs, and consumer goods.

However, due to the rapid fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Thai baht and the MMK, business owners and merchants are facing difficulties in setting prices for goods, according to a resident.

Another Mese Township resident said: “There are losses due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, and some ordinary consumers are unable to afford certain goods.”

When asked about the matter, Zu Padonma, Secretary-1 of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC), the interim revolutionary government of Karenni State, said: “The flow of money is solely dependent on local economic activities, so at present, I have no opinion on the matter.”

Other places in Karenni State where the Thai baht is also often used are Demoso Township and Mawchi Town in Hpasaung Township, though in those places usage of the Thai baht is not as widespread as in Mese Township.