Rangsiman Rome, the chairman of the Committee on Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy, and Reform of the House of Representatives of Thailand, held a press conference to report on the investigation progress regarding money laundering, the use of false accounts, and border electricity trade, revealing potential security risks in the electricity supply from Thailand to Myanmar.
Rangsiman disclosed that the Thai Ministry of Interior did not send representatives to the meeting that day, and only the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) responded on their behalf, but failed to fully explain the power supply arrangements.
Rangsiman stated that there are currently about 17 power supply stations to neighboring countries in Thailand, many of which are located in Myanmar, and these power trades may involve transnational crimes such as telecommunications fraud and drug trafficking.
He specifically mentioned two important power supply areas: supplying electricity from Mae Sot to Myawaddy, and from Mae Sai to Tachileik. These areas have been found to have close connections with drug and telecommunications fraud gangs.
In the Mae Sot area, PEA signed a contract with SMTY company, which is operated by Maj. Tin Win, a leader of the Myanmar Karen Border Guard Force (BGF). Rangsiman pointed out that the BGF troops provide support for the fraud gangs in Myawaddy, and the cooperation between PEA and SMTY essentially amounts to providing electricity to criminal gangs.
The contract partner in the Mae Sai area is the newly established Astra Electric company in 2023, which has a registered capital of only 1 million Thai Baht and is managed by a young woman with an unclear background. Although no formal contract has been signed yet, the company has been recommended by the Myanmar side as the electricity supplier, raising concerns on the Thai side.
Rangsiman revealed that PEA will hold a meeting on January 29 to discuss three power supply options: continue the existing supply, not fully renew the contract, or completely cut off the supply. He emphasized that PEA cannot independently assess the security impact of the power supply and needs guidance from the Thai Border Department and the National Security Council (NSC).
In addition to the power supply issue, Tak Province in Thailand has 59 cross-border transit points with Myanmar, which due to their large number, increase the difficulty of management.
The committee plans to hold a meeting on January 31 to discuss reducing the number of transit points to enhance the image of tourism and border security.
Rangsiman expressed hope that the upcoming meeting would propose specific solutions to the issues of power supply and transit point management, and called for cooperation from multiple parties to curb the criminal activities potentially involved in power trading.
The meeting on January 29 may become a critical juncture in determining the direction of Thailand's power supply policy towards Myanmar.
