Efforts to dismantle scam operations along Thailand’s border with Myanmar have resulted in the rescue of a limited number of individuals, prompting calls for more comprehensive actions to address the thriving illicit industry.
Thailand, with support from China, has been working to eliminate scam centers in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region. These centers are part of a broader network across Southeast Asia, where criminal organizations have trafficked numerous individuals in recent years, as reported by the United Nations.
Rangsiman Rome, a prominent opposition lawmaker and chair of the Thai Parliament’s committee on national security and border affairs, estimates that approximately 300,000 people are involved in scam operations within Myawaddy. However, fewer than 10,000 have been rescued to date. “It means like the empire of the scam is still there… we’re just shaking them,” Rome stated.
In a parliamentary session on February 27, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra acknowledged the urgency of addressing scam centers. The issue gained heightened attention following the abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing in Thailand in January. He was later found in the Myawaddy area, rescued, and returned to China.
As part of a coordinated response, Thailand has cut off electricity, internet, and fuel supplies to certain border areas, including Myawaddy. Armed groups have also been involved in rescuing individuals from scam centers, many of whom are victims of human trafficking. Currently, over 7,000 foreigners, predominantly from China, are awaiting transfer from Myawaddy into Thailand. Thai authorities are collaborating with multiple embassies to facilitate their repatriation.
Despite these efforts, Rome emphasizes that more needs to be done to dismantle the leadership of these scam operations and address the involvement of Thai officials who may have facilitated their growth. He points to figures such as Colonel Saw Chit Thu, a Myanmar warlord controlling areas around Myawaddy, as central to the proliferation of scam centers along the Thai frontier. “We know that he has a big connection with the Thai side,” Rome noted, suggesting possible links between Saw Chit Thu, leader of the Karen National Army, and Thai officials.
In recent weeks, Thai police have reassigned several officials from Tak province, which borders Myawaddy, following the establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate human trafficking allegations. Rome asserts that officials across various Thai government and security agencies have been complicit in the expansion of these scam compounds. “It’s time to stop the corruption in Thailand,” he urged.
The situation remains complex, with thousands of individuals still awaiting assistance and repatriation. The Thai government, in collaboration with international partners, continues to explore more effective strategies to combat the entrenched scam operations and address the underlying issues contributing to their persistence.
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