Under pressure from Thailand and China, Karen warlord Col Saw Chit Tu, of the Border Guard Force (BGF), has agreed to fully cooperate with the Thai government in its crackdown on scam gangs, operating in its territory in Myawaddy township, and to send many more trafficked foreigners to Thailand, starting this Saturday.
In an announcement, directly addressed to Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on Thursday, Saw Chit Tu also sought advice from Thailand on how to deal with the scamming and human trafficking gangs and, if necessary, help.
He said that foreigners who are trafficked to work in call centres in Myawaddy will be transferred to Thailand via the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot district of Tak province, opposite Myawaddy.
The Myawaddy township is notorious for two major scam centres, Shwe Kokko and KK Park, operated by Chinese organised crime.
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation is considering the issuance of arrest warrants for Col Saw Chit Tu and his two right-hand men, on charges of human trafficking and money laundering.
The Office of Attorney-General has, however, suggested that more hard evidence is needed to support such warrants.
The cutting of petrol, electricity and internet to five locations in Myanmar’s border townships by Thailand on February 5th has affected many Burmese people, putting pressure on the BGF to launch a crackdown on the scam gangs in their territory.
