By Thai Newsroom Reporters
POWER SUPPLY FROM a northwestern border district in Thailand to a scam-infested township in Myanmar was being completely shut off today (Feb.4), according to Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.
Phumtham confirmed today he has already ordered the Provincial Electricity of Thailand via the National Security Council to completely terminate its cross-border power supply from Mae Sot district of Tak to Myawaddy township in Myanmar today amidst mounting concerns that it has been consumed daily by suspected, transnational criminals preying on victims in Thailand.
The deputy prime minister-cum-defence minister said he has made the decision on his own to immediately shut off the PEA power supply to Myawaddy without need for approval from the Pheu Thai-led cabinet of ministers. Phumtham said the PEA or any other government agency could no longer drag their feet over the matter which, he said, has seriously affected Thailand’s national security.
Those who might probably fail to take action accordingly will be immediately transferred from their current positions in relation to the cross-border power supply, he said.
Viewed as a right-hand man for de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, Phumtham has taken action after Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Interior Minister/Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul had commented that he would unreluctantly order the PEA to immediately shut off the power supply for the Myanmar border township only if any government agency in charge of national security affairs formally insisted that he do so.
Under a power purchase contract between the PEA and a little-known firm under control of a Karen Border Guard Force ethnic rebel group, the cross-border power has been consumed daily by suspected call-centre scammers and drug dealers, among local villagers, in Shwe Kokko and KK Park areas of Myawaddy where Myanmar government forces could rarely control.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page:Scam and casino centre in Myawaddy. Photos: Naewna
Insert: Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. Photo: Thai Rath
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