On February 8, 2025, following a decision made by the National Security Council on February 5, the Thai government decided to stop supplying electricity to Myanmar, causing widespread dissatisfaction and living difficulties among the Myanmar people.
The power outage not only affected the daily lives of the Myanmar people but also had a profound negative impact on various industries. To express their anger and helplessness, the people of Myanmar decided to hold rallies to pressure the government to restore electricity and fuel supplies.
The plight of the Myanmar people goes far beyond everyday life. The Thai government cut off five key border power supply points with Myanmar, including the Myawaddy area opposite Thailand's Tak Province's Mae Sot District.
This decision immediately led to power supply disruptions in several regions of Myanmar, especially in Myawaddy, a key city where life and production activities were severely affected.
"We only have enough oxygen for three days," said Dr. Min Aung, the head of the emergency room at Myawaddy Central Hospital, looking worriedly at patients relying on ventilators to sustain their lives. This border city in southeastern Myanmar is experiencing one of the most severe energy crises in recent years.
On the morning of February 8, an unusual tense atmosphere pervaded the streets of Myawaddy. Before dawn, people had already begun gathering at Mya Sandi Park. This usually peaceful park was to witness a special rally today. Three thousand citizens, with their demands, were ready to measure the streets of this power-cut city with their steps.
"I've been running a clinic for over twenty years, and this is the first time I've felt so helpless," said Dr. Wu Ang, a family clinic doctor, feeling somewhat dazed, "Without electricity, many basic medical devices cannot operate. Yesterday, a patient with asthma came to see me, and I could only send him to a larger hospital, but the situation there wasn't much better."
The decision that plunged this border city into difficulty was made by the Thai government on February 5: cutting off five important border electricity supply points with Myanmar. This decision came suddenly but was not unexpected. The Thai government's consideration was simple: to combat transnational crime, especially the increasingly rampant telecommunications fraud. However, reality is often more complex than ideals, and a single government order hurts the daily lives of countless people.
On the streets of Myawaddy, there were fewer cars. Thirteen gas stations were in trouble due to the interruption of fuel supplies, some simply closed down. Those still operating had long lines in front, with fuel prices nearly doubling. "Just queuing up for fuel takes two to three hours every day," said taxi driver Wu Dan Cheng helplessly, "Now I have to be very careful with every trip, fearing I won't be able to make it back if I go too far."
In the hospital corridor, a mother was softly comforting her child lying in the hospital bed. The five-year-old girl needed oxygen for severe pneumonia, but the hospital's oxygen supply was in jeopardy. "We now have to strictly control the use of oxygen," said Nurse Ma Qiuwen, "Every oxygen cylinder must be precisely timed for use, fearing any mishap."
This sudden energy crisis, like a revealing mirror, reflects the vulnerability of modern city life. Without electricity, the hospital's large medical equipment cannot operate, and the intensive care unit can only rely on backup generators to maintain the most basic operations. Without fuel, the city's logistics system began to collapse, and the prices of daily necessities began to soar.
"We are not protesting; we are fighting for survival," said a citizen participating in the rally. Starting from Mya Sandi Park, passing through Hospital Road, Bainong Road, Mya Yadana Road, and finally reaching the Second Friendship Bridge, this parade route itself is a metaphor: it connects the most important lifelines of the city.
Wu Tu Lun Min, the chairman of the Myawaddy Provincial People's Congress, spoke with a hint of helplessness: "We understand the Thai government's determination to combat crime, but is cutting off electricity really like throwing out the baby with the bathwater?"
On the Thai side, the governor of Tak Province, Zhu Qi Pengchai, appeared cautious and subtle. At the border issue meeting, he stated that he would assess the effects of the power cut measures. Implicitly, this "cutting off the bottom of the pot" approach, whether it is combating crime or punishing innocent civilians, is something even the Thai officials themselves are reflecting on.
Standing on the Second Friendship Bridge, looking at the scenery on both sides, it's hard not to think about the cruelty of the term "power cut." The interruption of power supply is not just a technical or policy issue, but also a test of humanity. When we use power cuts to punish criminals, have we considered those lying in hospital beds? Those ordinary people who need to maintain basic living conditions?
As night falls, the sky over Myawaddy is enveloped in darkness. Sparse lights come from candles and flashlights in various homes. In this darkness, people are waiting for a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, the real solution lies not in simple power cuts, but in how the two governments find a balance between combating crime and protecting civilian lives.
After all, isn't the existence of the Friendship Bridge meant to connect rather than separate?
