SRI LANKA embassy asked the Thai Foreign Ministry to help free 43 of their citizens who were tricked into working at Chinese grey capitalists’ scam centres in Myanmar’s Myawaddy township, across Moei river from Thai border town Mae Sot, where victims from 20 other countries are similarly entrapped, Naewna newspaper said today (June 24).
In its letter to the Foreign Ministry, the Sri Lanka embassy said all 43 of the victims had travelled to the crime-ridden areas along the Moei river in Myawaddy after landing in Thailand but has not yet got a response from Thai authorities.
Sources said embassies of many countries had also sent letters complaining about their people being entrapped at scam centres along the Moei river and asking for help.
Most of the victims were tricked by offers of well-paying jobs and upon flying to Suvarnabhumi Airport they then either fly to Mae Sot or take a van led by a Thai or Chinese person there.
Upon reaching the Thai border town they are taken via natural path to this river where a boat then ferries them across to cyber-crime hubs at Shwe Kokko, KK Park and a new centre opposite Chong Khaep subdistrict, Phob Phra district.
These victims are forced to scam people online in various ways and if they do not meet the income target they are punished such as with electric shocks, whipped on the back and locked up in a dark room. They have tried calling various organisations, including the embassy of their own country, for help.
However this border area is under the control of Karen Border Guard Force headed by Col. Saw Chit Thu and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army which are neither under the control of the Thai government nor the Myanmar junta but they do have a loose agreement with the latter.
“In the past, many groups and nationalities of foreign victims have been helped. Covert contacts were made after the victims’ relatives were willing to pay ransom with Thai soldiers or policemen who have good connections with the leaders of these scam centres acting as go-between.
“Once back in Thailand these victims have to immediately leave for their country – only being fined for illegal entry,” sources said.
Victims from at least 20 countries have been previously helped including including Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, Uganda, Morocco, Burundi and Myanmar itself.
The UN agency International Organization for Migration (IOM) held a meeting at Teak Hotel, Mae Sot,on June 19 attended by representatives from many embassies and at one point the Kenyan diplomat mentioned the case of 108 Kenyans tricked to work at crime centres on the banks of Moei river, Myawaddy.
He said the 108 Kenyans were detained at crime hotspots in Myanmar and the Golden Triangle (Laos). Once helped the victims have to enter the National Referral Mechanism process in Bangkok but before leaving Mae Sot they have to pay a 2,000 baht fine. However it takes three months for them to return to their country because all the flights are full.
“Kenyans rescued from Myanmar had their passports confiscated and did not know where they were… I heard that Mae Sot is the hub or gateway to the big centre (of crime). In crossing the Moei river to this zone (of crime) in Myanmar, Kenyans, Ethiopians, Burundians, all did so. The entry is Suvarnabhumi Airport, then a vehicle takes them to Mae Sot, they stay at a hotel in Mae Sot, then set out for Myanmar.
“Think about it from the airport to Mae Sot how many checkpoints they would have to pass, stay at a hotel then go to Myanmar, to the crime centre, and on returning through Thailand, this is also illegal, how can this be?” the Kenyan diplomat questioned.
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Top and Front Page: Victims trapped to work at scam centres run by Chinese grey capitalists in Myawaddy, across the river from Mae Sot, and the crime and casino hub there. Photos: Naewna
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