Thailand shuts power to Myanmar’s scam hub

South China Morning Post ^ | 2/6/2025 | South China Morning Post

[Steven Scharf]

Thai authorities have cut off internet, power and fuel along the Thailand and Myanmar border in a bid to thwart the operation of scam centres there. The move on February 5, 2025, came amid growing pressure for Thailand to do more to help clamp down on the illegal compounds that have ensnared vast numbers of people from many jurisdictions. The Thai Provincial Electricity Authority disconnected power supplies at five points along the northern border, including Myawaddy in Myanmar’s Shan state. The high-profile rescue of a Chinese actor from a scam operation near the Thai border in January has put the long-running problem in the spotlight.

Read more here: https://sc.mp/aqrz7

[Steven Scharf]

Although I assume the South China Post is whole funded by the Chinese government they post interesting and well done stories on YouTube from time to time.

As folks may or may not know, Myanmar has been engaged in a civil war for the last three years. The Chinese have been on the rebel side against the military junta that staged a coup that precepted the civil war.

These scam centers are in areas where fighting is going on.

[Steven Scharf]

Although this probably deserves its own post, I will reframe from doing so.

IDIOT’S GUIDE TO TRUMP’S TARIFFS (also from the South China Morning Post)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nvh3ayQ-5yU&ab_channel=SouthChinaMorningPost

The end is quite funny.

[EnderWiggin1970]

The Chinese have been on the rebel side against the military junta that staged a coup that precepted the civil war.

That's a severe oversimplication at best. The Chinese are the primary arms suppliers to the Tatmadaw (military government) and have been happy to partner with them over the years as they oppress the ethnics and exploit them for resource extraction and so forth. Only in the past year as the Tatmadaw has slowly collapsed have the Chinese realized they need to start developing a working relationship with some (not most) of the ethnic armies.

[ifinnegan]

“ The Chinese have been on the rebel side against the military junta…”

I don’t think so.

[Truthsearcher]

The scam centers are run by the Chinese criminals, and the main target of the scam is also Chinese. Both Thai and Myanmar authorities have left them alone figuring this is Chinese on Chinese crime and they don’t need to get involved. (Not to mention there are some credible evidence that these centers are highly profitable and the people who run them are connected to the CCP to begin with and Thai and Myanmar authorities were warned to stay away.)
This whole thing blew up because a minor Chinese TV actor celebrity was conned into going to Thailand for a TV gig but was kidnapped and taken to this camp and forced to work there as slave labor.
His girlfriend used his celebrity status to alert the public about him having gone missing, and it became such a huge story in China that his kidnappers let him go.
But now everyone in China is refusing to vacation in Thailand, citing safety concerns, so Thailand who needs the tourists business is forced to something about them.

[Larry Lucido]

[sauropod]

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