MAE SOT, Thailand — A new crackdown on online scam centers has led to over 7,000 people world-wide being held in a Myanmar border town awaiting repatriation, and those helping them said the un-precedented number is straining the resources of Thailand and leading to delays.
The crackdown coordinated among Thailand, Myanmar and China follows Thai Prime Minister Paetong-tarn Shinawatra's visit to Beijing this month, where she told Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Thailand would act against the scam networks that have drawn in hundreds of thousands of people.
Amy Miller, Southeast Asia director of aid group Acts of Mercy International and based in Thailand's Mae Sot on the Myanmar border, told AP she has never seen such a large-scale release of potential victims of human trafficking.'The ability to get them over to Thailand and process them and house them and feed them would be impossible for most governments,' she said.
Workers In Myanmar Await Return
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China, Thailand, Myanmar Crack Down on Online Scam CentersChinese and Thai officials are working together to shut down online scam centers in Myanmar, following a visit by China's vice minister of public security. The operation aims to repatriate thousands of workers, many of whom were lured into the scam industry under false pretenses. The issue has drawn attention in China after numerous reports of citizens being trafficked and exploited in these operations.
Read more »
US Aid Freeze Disrupts Services for Myanmar Refugees in ThailandA 90-day freeze on foreign assistance programs by US President Donald Trump has resulted in the suspension of vital services for over 100,000 refugees from Myanmar residing in Thailand. The disruption affects healthcare, education, and support programs due to funding cuts from the US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, the main donor for many aid organizations operating in the region.
Read more »
US Aid Freeze Disrupts Services for Myanmar Refugees in ThailandA 90-day freeze on foreign assistance programs by the US has severely impacted services for over 100,000 refugees from Myanmar living in camps along Thailand’s border. The suspension of funding from the US State Department has forced several NGOs and charity groups to halt operations, including crucial hospital services provided by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). While Thai officials have pledged to care for seriously ill patients, the aid freeze has created a significant humanitarian crisis.
Read more »
Thailand cuts power to Myanmar borderBANGKOK – Thailand cut cross-border electricity supplies to five locations in Myanmar on Wednesday, in an effort to stamp out online scam centers blamed
Read more »
Thailand Cuts Electricity to Myanmar to Fight Online ScamsThailand has halted electricity supplies to five locations in Myanmar to combat a surge in online scam operations targeting Chinese citizens. The move, authorized by the National Security Council, aims to disrupt the operations of criminal gangs running these scam centers in Myanmar's border regions. Thailand earns approximately 50 million baht ($1.5 million) monthly from electricity sales to these locations. The decision follows concerns from China about the growing number of scam centers and their impact on Chinese tourists.
Read more »
260 Trafficked Workers Rescued From Myanmar Scam Centers, to be Repatriated via ThailandThe Thai army announced the rescue and repatriation of approximately 260 individuals believed to be victims of human trafficking, who were forced to work in online scam centers operating in Myanmar. These victims, spanning 20 nationalities, were transported from Myanmar to Thailand and will undergo questioning to determine their status as trafficking victims. Thailand will facilitate their return to their home countries, but will not establish shelters for them.
Read more »