Colonel Saw Chit Thu, leader of the Border Guard Force (BGF) of Myanmar's Karen State, responded to the arrest warrants issued by Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) against him and other Myanmar border guard leaders, stating that he has no involvement with human trafficking and that foreigners come to Myanmar voluntarily.
Thai media reported that DSI officials submitted evidence to the relevant departments, claiming that Colonel Saw Chit Thu and other key figures in the Myawaddy area are suspected of involvement in human trafficking, prompting the request for arrest warrants. The suspects also include Lieutenant Colonel Mote Thone, Major Tin Win, and the owner of the Myawaddy casino.
In response, Deputy Commander Nai Maung So (transliterated) of the BGF stationed in Myawaddy stated in an interview that Myanmar border guard leaders have never participated in human trafficking, nor do they support deceitful and harmful practices. He emphasized that foreigners come to Myanmar on their own initiative, not under coercion or influence from the Karen Border Guard Force. The intermediaries "brokers" are not members of the Karen Border Guard Force.
Additionally, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reported that Colonel Saw Chit Thu also responded in a telephone interview, stating that foreigners are not brought into Myanmar by the Karen Border Guard Force, but choose to come on their own. He pointed out that how foreigners enter Myanmar is something the Thai side is more aware of, "These people don't have wings; they can't just float down from the sky into Myanmar."
He added that many who claim to be victims are actually volunteers who came to Myanmar and only became victims or perpetrators of human trafficking after their arrival. For these foreigners, the frontline units of the Karen Border Guard Force, upon receiving coordination from various countries or regions, will repatriate them through legal means to their own countries.
