According to Thai media reports, the Myawaddy and KK industrial parks in Myanmar are on the verge of collapse, as the Thai government has cut off electricity and internet and banned the transportation of oil to Myanmar, causing severe chaos among telephone scam gangs. The gray production groups have moved their communication equipment to Thailand and are transporting them across the border to the new stronghold in Poipet, Cambodia.
Meanwhile, several Karen armed groups have called on the Thai government to reconsider the decision to cut off electricity and oil transportation, claiming that it has caused difficulties for local residents and, on humanitarian grounds, threatened to close two friendship bridge border crossings and boycott Thai goods.
The latest developments show that since 9 AM on February 5, Thailand has cut off electricity supply to Myanmar, stopped oil sales, and disrupted internet signals to combat the activities of transnational telephone scam gangs using the region as a scam base. Although the city of Ta Khilek in Shan State, Myanmar, has turned to Laos for electricity, the Laotian government has limited the transmission capacity from 30 megawatts to 13 megawatts, causing a power shortage in Ta Khilek. Several hotels, which serve as casino centers, have significantly reduced lighting, making the city, which was once brightly lit, dim at night.
Social media reports from Ta Khilek indicate that from February 6 to 8, local police and military conducted raids along the Salween River, arresting several casino owners and employees. In nearby towns, the Myanmar government has also ordered a crackdown on online gambling sites and scam gangs set up in the mountains, capturing dozens of suspects.
Due to the power shortage affecting computer communications, making normal work impossible, and the lack of fuel for diesel generators, local illegal online gambling sites and scam gangs have laid off over 100 employees. Most of the dismissed employees are Thai, who are gradually returning from Ta Khilek to Mae Sai, Thailand. It is expected that some gray production groups are planning to move communication equipment and computers to Mae Sai, Thailand, and then transport them to Poipet, Cambodia, to establish a new stronghold.
On the same morning, the Mae Pa Police Station in Tak Province assisted a 30-year-old Kenyan human trafficking victim, James Openda Amunga. He escaped from the scam park in Myawaddy, crossed the Moei River, sought help from local villagers, and was eventually taken to the Mae Pa Police Station. James was covered in scars, with swollen legs, injured from walking barefoot while fleeing. He claimed to have escaped from the Myawaddy scam park, trekking over mountains for 5 hours, covering more than 10 kilometers, and finally reaching Mae Pa County in Thailand for help.
James stated that he is from Kenya and was deceived by a Kenyan recruitment company to work as a chef in Thailand with promises of a high income. However, after arriving in Thailand on October 5, he was taken by the airport staff to Mae Sot, Tak Province, and then forcibly taken across the border into Myanmar to work in cryptocurrency scams. He refused to comply, was beaten and electrocuted by the gang, suffered multiple injuries, and even had hot wax poured on him, causing severe burns. After 4 months of suffering, he finally managed to escape, feeling as if he had been reborn.
According to reports, James is one of 45 Kenyan victims who received assistance from the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand. James has spoken with the Kenyan Ambassador to Thailand, Kiptinness Lindsay Kimwole, who expressed relief at his safe escape and inquired about the situation of other Kenyan compatriots seeking help.
James was imprisoned in an area controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), believed to house over 1000 foreign workers, including victims from China and 23 Kenyans, as well as individuals from the Philippines, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
A member of the Thai People's Party, Rangsiman Rome, issued a warrant yesterday for the leader of the BGF/KNA armed group, Mong Situ, and called on the government to intensify efforts to combat telephone scam gangs. He pointed out that the BGF armed group led by Mong Situ not only cooperates with scam gangs but also commits many crimes, including enslaving Thai citizens and people worldwide.
Rangsiman emphasized that the government, especially the police, must deal seriously with Mong Situ, although many of his actions occur abroad, they have a serious impact on Thailand. He also revealed that Mong Situ holds many secrets of Thai officials, and his arrest could help expose more involved parties and thoroughly combat gray production and Thai gray capital forces.
Rangsiman said, "My sources also tell me that Mong Situ holds a lot of secrets of the Thai government officials because he also bribes the Thai side. It is said that if Mong Situ is captured, he will expose all related people. This is killing two birds with one stone, no, maybe dozens or even hundreds of birds. We can strike at gray capital, including Thailand's gray capital. I hope the government acts quickly."
