Thousands Languish on Myanmar’s Border, Trapped in a New Nightmare
Authorities recently liberated over 7,000 people from Myanmar, where they were being forced to scam people worldwide. Now, they sit in overcrowded detention camps with no food or medical care.
Along the Myanmar-Thailand border, thousands of young men and women from nations like India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Kenya huddle in cramped rows, their faces hidden behind surgical masks. Sick, exhausted, and gripped by fear, they thought their ordeal had ended. Last month, a widely publicized operation by Thai, Chinese, and Myanmar authorities liberated over 7,000 people from locked compounds in Myanmar, where they were forced to scam people worldwide out of their savings. But instead of freedom, they’ve stumbled into another trap: overcrowded detention camps with scarce food, no medical care, and no word on when—or if—they’ll return home.
“It felt like a blessing to escape, but all we want is to go home,” a 24-year-old Indian man whispered to The Associated Press over a smuggled phone, his voice heavy with despair. He described his detention center, where 800 people share 10 filthy toilets, many battling fevers and coughs. “If we die here, who’s accountable?” he asked, requesting anonymity for his safety. The armed militias holding them—the Kayin Border Guard Force and Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army—along with Thai officials across the river, say they’re waiting for the detainees’ home governments to act. What could have been one of history’s largest rescues of forced laborers is now unraveling into a humanitarian crisis, with advocates estimating up to 300,000 may still be trapped in similar scam operations across Southeast Asia.
Lured by Lies, Bound by Fear
These survivors, many well-educated and fluent in English, were drawn to Thailand with promises of high-paying jobs. Instead, they were trafficked into Myanmar, their passports seized, and locked in compounds. There, they endured 16-hour days at computers, running cyber scams under threat of violence. “They take your passport, lock you in—it’s a living hell,” a Pakistani man recounted. Refusal meant beatings, starvation, or electric shocks. Since the pandemic, these scams have ballooned, with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimating losses of $18 billion to $37 billion in Asia alone in 2023.
The crackdown began when a Chinese actor, lured by a fake job offer, was trafficked to Myanmar. His girlfriend’s viral social media campaign sparked outrage, prompting Beijing to pressure regional governments. A senior Chinese official visited Thailand and Myanmar, demanding action. Thailand cut power, internet, and gas to five Myanmar border towns, pushing local militias to release some captives. But freedom proved illusory.
A Second Prison
Now, the liberated are detained in repurposed scam compounds or army camps, some since early February. Over 7,000 people cram these sites, sleeping on floors in squalid conditions. AP photos reveal their desperation: double-masked faces under armed guards’ gaze. China has bused its citizens home via chartered flights, but others wait in limbo. A group of 130 Ethiopians lacks the $600 for a plane ticket, while dozens of Indonesians were recently shuttled to Bangkok with their sparse belongings. Tensions flared last week as Chinese detainees clashed with guards.
Thailand insists it can’t process crossings without immediate repatriation, capping intake at 300 per day, down from 500. After meeting with foreign embassies, officials pledged to hasten rescues, but progress lags. “We know there are sick people who need to go home,” said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura. Many embassies, including India’s, have yet to respond, leaving detainees stranded.
Small aid groups like Acts of Mercy International offer solace in Mae Sot, providing escapees with food, water, and phones to call loved ones. “We can see them across the border, but we can’t reach them,” said Amy Miller, the group’s Southeast Asia director, gazing toward the Friendship Bridge. A U.S. funding freeze has gutted UN support, amplifying the strain. “It’s heartbreaking to see so many in need,” said Saskia Kok of the International Organization for Migration.
A Crisis Unresolved
The criminal networks driving these scams remain unscathed, powered by generators and Starlink internet. Leaders like Kayin Border Guard Force head General Saw Chit Thu—sanctioned by the EU and UK for profiting from trafficking—face no prosecutions. “The bosses are filthy rich; this doesn’t touch them,” a 23-year-old Pakistani detainee said, his hope fading as conditions deteriorate. “My friends can’t survive here much longer.” His question lingers, unanswered: “Is anyone coming for us?” As the world watches, a crisis festers just beyond reach, mocking the promise of rescue. With Inputs from AP/PTI. Pic Credit AP/PTI.
