Latest news with #Thailand-Myanmar
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Thailand: Lawyers Council Launches Probe Into Fatal Torture Of Myanmar National
(BANGKOK, May 23, 2025)—The Lawyers Council of Thailand under the Royal Patronage formally established a working group of lawyers to investigate the torture and killing of Aung Ko Ko, a 37-year-old Myanmar national, Fortify Rights said today. The move follows a public complaint submitted by Fortify Rights detailing evidence of torture by Thai soldiers near the Thailand-Myanmar border. 'There is reason to be concerned about a high-level cover-up in this case, and the Lawyers Council may be the only hope for justice,' said Matthew Smith, Chief Executive Officer at Fortify Rights. 'This is a critical test of the rule of law in Thailand—whether it applies equally to all, regardless of rank, uniform, or nationality, when serious crimes are committed.' On February 13, 2025, Fortify Rights filed a detailed complaint with the President of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, Wichien Chubthaisong, providing evidence that Thai soldiers fatally tortured Aung Ko Ko in Mae Sot District, Tak Province. At a public hearing at the Lawyers Council, attended by the media and members of the diplomatic community, Fortify Rights also raised concerns over the conviction of Sirachuch, a 24-year-old Myanmar national and eyewitness to the torture. He goes by one name and remains imprisoned in Thailand for the death of Aung Ko Ko. On November 7, 2024, Fortify Rights Chief Executive Officer Matthew Smith provided in-person testimony about the fatal torture of Aung Ko Ko to Thailand's Department of Special Investigations (DSI) in Bangkok and filed a complaint based on evidence collected by Fortify Rights. DSI is a law enforcement agency under the Ministry of Justice that handles complex and high-profile crimes, including corruption and alleged human rights violations by state security forces. At that meeting, Fortify Rights provided DSI with the evidence it had gathered on the death of Aung Ko Ko, including a forthcoming report in the Thai language. Regrettably, on February 18, 2025, DSI informed Fortify Rights in a letter that it would cease any investigation into the torture and death of Aung Ko Ko. DSI did not provide a detailed explanation of why it elected to effectively ignore this case. On May 8, 2025, Fortify Rights sent a follow-up letter to DSI seeking clarification and reconsideration of its decision not to investigate the fatal torture of Aung Ko Ko. Last month, on April 8, the U.N. publicly released a joint communication from three U.N. Special Rapporteurs to the Thai government expressing grave concern over Aung Ko Ko's torture and death. The Special Rapporteurs — on Myanmar, extrajudicial executions, and torture — called on the Thai government to conduct an independent, impartial, and thorough investigation and emphasized the urgency of protecting Myanmar nationals at risk of violence by Thai security forces. In their communication, the three U.N. Special Rapporteurs wrote that they 'are extremely concerned about the alleged arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture and killing of Aung Ko Ko by Royal Thai Army soldiers.' They added: We are also concerned that the investigation into Aung Ko Ko's torture and death does not appear to be thorough, effective or in line with international standards, and are concerned about possible violations of fair trial rights, leading to the ongoing lack of accountability for Royal Thai Army soldiers involved in his death. On May 20, 2025, Fortify Rights received confirmation from the U.N. Special Rapporteurs that they had received a response from the Permanent Mission of Thailand in Geneva acknowledging receipt of the joint communication and confirming that it had been forwarded to relevant agencies in Thailand for their consideration in March 2025. However, at the time of writing, there has been no further update or response indicating any action or progress from the Thai government. Death at the Thai-Myanmar Border, a 44-page report released by Fortify Rights on November 14, 2024, includes multiple eyewitness testimonies explaining how, on January 12, 2024, four Thai soldiers detained Aung Ko Ko near a small wooden bridge located in the 70 Rai area. Eyewitnesses described how three of these soldiers severely beat Aung Ko Ko with a long wooden implement, causing injuries that killed him on the same day. Photographs and testimony collected by Fortify Rights show dark bruises on his entire back, forehead, around both cheekbones, and on his nose. Despite clear indications of torture and military involvement—also noted in police charge sheets and court testimonies documented by Fortify Rights—no Thai soldiers have been held accountable. On May 21, 2025, Fortify Rights received confirmation from the Lawyers Council that its Human Rights Committee had officially appointed a working group of five lawyers on May 7 to investigate the case, gather evidence, and explore legal avenues for justice. The Lawyers Council did not mention providing legal assistance to Sirachuch, whose case is under appeal. The right to be free from torture is non-derogable under international law, meaning that it cannot be suspended or limited under any circumstances. Thailand's domestic law—including the Thai Constitution, the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, the Criminal Code, and the Criminal Procedure Code—also guarantees the right to life and protection from extrajudicial killings as well as protection from torture and arbitrary arrest. 'As a sitting member of the U.N. Human Rights Council, Thailand has the opportunity and obligation to uphold the highest human rights standards,' said Matthew Smith. 'Despite having anti-torture legislation on its books for more than two years now, Thailand is denying justice to Aung Ko Ko and his family. We're hopeful the authorities will change course and ensure justice, accountability, and the rule of law.'
Al Arabiya
11-03-2025
- Al Arabiya
India brings home nearly 300 citizens lured to Southeast Asian scam centers
India has brought home nearly 300 of its nationals who were lured to various southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, with fake job offers and made to engage in cybercrime and other fraudulent activities in scam compounds, the government said. Thousands of people have been freed from cyber scam centers along the Thailand-Myanmar border this year as countries work together to crack down on the criminal networks. China and Indonesia repatriated some of their citizens last month. 'Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand have coordinated with local authorities to secure the repatriation of 283 Indian nationals today by an IAF (Indian Air Force) aircraft from Mae Sot in Thailand,' India's foreign ministry said late on Monday. Thailand arrested 100 people last week as a part of its crackdown on the scam centers. Criminal gangs have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people to the centers, which generate billions of dollars a year from illegal online schemes, according to the United Nations. India also warned its citizens against the scams, advising them to 'verify' the credentials of foreign employers and check the 'antecedents' of recruiting agents and companies before taking up job offers.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
India brings home nearly 300 citizens rescued from Southeast Asian scam centres
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has brought home nearly 300 of its nationals who were lured to various southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, with fake job offers and made to engage in cybercrime and other fraudulent activities in scam compounds, the government said. Thousands of people have been freed from cyber scam centres along the Thailand-Myanmar border this year as countries work together to crack down on the criminal networks. China and Indonesia repatriated some of their citizens last month. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "Indian embassies in Myanmar and Thailand have coordinated with local authorities to secure the repatriation of 283 Indian nationals today by an IAF (Indian Air Force) aircraft from Mae Sot in Thailand," India's foreign ministry said late on Monday. Thailand arrested 100 people last week as a part of its crackdown on the scam centres. Criminal gangs have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people to the centres, which generate billions of dollars a year from illegal online schemes, according to the United Nations. India also warned its citizens against the scams, advising them to "verify" the credentials of foreign employers and check the "antecedents" of recruiting agents and companies before taking up job offers.
Al Jazeera
21-02-2025
- Al Jazeera
Hundreds of Chinese airlifted home after crackdown on Myanmar scam centres
As many as 1,000 Chinese nationals rescued from online scam centres in Myanmar are due to return home following an international crackdown on the illegal operations. They are among the thousands of foreigners freed this week from scam centres, where they were forced to run romance and investment scams, among others. Many claim to be victims themselves, lured to countries like Thailand with the false promise of a job before they were trafficked over the border into Myanmar. The Karen Border Guard Force, a group allied with Myanmar's military government, says it will deport 10,000 people from the Myanmar-Thailand border region in the coming days. Thailand, China and Myanmar are working together to shut down scam centres on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Thai authorities are overseeing much of the evacuation and processing, with workers being sent from Myanmar to Thailand in small batches. The UN estimates that as many as 120,000 people may be working in online scam centres in Myanmar, where criminal gangs have taken advantage of the country's instability and ongoing civil war. Another 100,000 may be trapped in Cambodia, according to the UN, with thousands more in similar facilities across Southeast Asia. Earlier this month, Bangkok cut off electricity to the border region in a bid to slow down gangs. A first group of 200 people flew back to China on Thursday, where they were filmed by state media wearing handcuffs and matching jumpsuits as they departed their plane. The most recent crackdown began after a high-profile case in January. Chinese actor Wang Xing was lured to Thailand with the promise of a film role and was then taken across the border to Myanmar. He was quickly rescued by Thai authorities, but the case went viral on Chinese social media, along with discussions about the dangers of travelling to Thailand.
CNN
05-02-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Thailand cuts power to Myanmar border areas home to scam compounds as Chinese pressure builds
Thailand cut electricity supplies on Wednesday to several areas in neighboring Myanmar that are home to sites at the center of a global, billion-dollar online scam industry. As of Wednesday afternoon, at least one of the scam compounds was still operating, according to a local NGO in contact with workers inside one location. However, it's unclear whether the cuts impacted other scam site operations in the area. Online scam factories – many run by Chinese crime syndicates – have proliferated in Myanmar, which has been riven by a bloody civil war since the military seized power in 2021. Often lured by the promise of well-paid jobs or other enticing opportunities, workers are routinely held against their will and forced to carry out online fraud schemes in heavily guarded compounds, where former detainees say beatings and torture are common. On Wednesday, Thailand's Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul toured a control station at the national electricity grid as staff pulled the plug on supplies to five locations across the border, in an event broadcast live on television. Thailand 'has stopped the electricity supply to Myanmar in five locations based on the decision of the National Security Council,' he told reporters. 'The electricity supply is not being stopped because the companies violated the contract, but because the electricity is being misused for scams, drugs and call centers,' he said. One of those locations was in the town of Myawaddy, on the banks of a river that divides Thailand from Myanmar, and close to some of the largest scam compounds that NGOs say house thousands of workers. Several of the compounds lie near the border, where they can take advantage of more reliable electricity and telecoms services from Thailand. Renewed focus on the sites came last month when a Chinese actor, having flown to Bangkok for what he thought was a movie casting call, was picked up at the airport and driven across the border into Myanmar and forced to work in a scam center there. The scam compounds have operated for years, shielded by corruption and lawlessness that has long saturated Myanmar's border regions — and only worsened after years of devastating civil war. But Thailand has come under increased pressure to help curb the criminal activity and has held a series of high-profile meetings recently that suggest officials in Myanmar, Thailand and China may make stronger moves to crack down on the syndicates. Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is currently visiting Beijing, where she will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping. China's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Beijing was 'highly concerned' about recent incidents involving online scammers 'at the Thailand-Myanmar border,' foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said in a daily briefing. The scam compounds function much like small cities, with restaurants, grocery stores and even daycare centers, according to former workers previously interviewed by CNN. Besides scam operations, the sites also provide real estate for gambling and prostitution. Myawaddy alone is home to about 6,500 victims from 23 countries being held under duress in scam compounds, including about 4,500 Chinese nationals, according to an estimate from the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, a Thai NGO fighting against human trafficking. Thailand has previously cut electricity supplies to scam sites near its border with Myanmar in recent years. However, it's unclear if those prior cuts had any impact on operations. In the event there were electricity cuts, compound bosses could switch to diesel-run generators for power, and Elon Musk's Starlink – which is used elsewhere in Myanmar by various ethnic rebel groups – for internet connectivity. Thailand's cuts Wednesday also targeted Myanmar's Three Pagodas Pass, which links southeastern Myanmar and western Thailand, prompting concerns among locals who worried how they would cope. 'For businessmen, they have money to buy generators for electricity and work for their businesses,' one resident told CNN. 'But, for us poor locals, we can't afford to buy generators.' A resident of Thailand's Mae Sot, which sits across the river from Myawaddy in Myanmar, said he doubted the power cuts would stop the scam centers. 'Tonight you will see the lights on in Shwe Kokko,' he said, referring to a notorious compound visible across the border. The abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing has brought renewed focus to the scams. Just days after he was reported missing in Mae Sot, Thai police said they located him in Myawaddy and brought him back to Thailand. His subsequent safe return to China has spurred hundreds of Chinese families to call on their government to help to find and free their loved ones, who they believe are still trapped in the scam centers. Some have been missing for months or even years, their families say. More than four years on from its coup, Myanmar's military continues to fight multiple fronts across the country against powerful armed ethnic militias to hold onto power. More than 5,000 civilians have been killed and 3.3 million people displaced by the fighting, according to a United Nations report last September. Amid the political turmoil, Myanmar has become a cyber scam hotspot, where fraud, cybercrime, human trafficking, money laundering and corruption have flourished, often with the tacit consent of the junta, experts say. China previously worked with authorities in Myanmar to crack down on scam centers in northern Shan state, near the Chinese border. In 2023, as ethnic rebel groups gained ground against the junta, powerful warlord families – backed by the military to rule the region and oversee these fraud operations – were apprehended and handed to Chinese police. Chinese authorities say more than 53,000 Chinese 'suspects' – including trafficked victims – have been sent back to China from scam compounds in northern Myanmar. But many scam centers have moved further south in Myanmar, including to Myawaddy, according to NGOs and experts who have long tracked these criminal operations. CNN's Nectar Gan and Helen Regan contributed reporting.
