The move of Thailand to cut electricity, fuel and internet service in an area on the other side of the border at Myanmar Rife with scam centers hurt the ordinary people than the crime unions he tried Target, residents on Radio Free Asia told residents.
The grid stop since February 4 has resulted in many people turning to electric generators, which doubled the price of gas in Myawaddy in just five weeks.
Described by some because it is “the most decisive action of all time”, Bangkok said that this decision was aimed at closing scam operations, where hundreds of workers victims of trafficking have been trapped and often tortured. Thailand has also prohibited the export of 12 items, including mobile phones and electrical devices, in Myanmar.
But criminal organizations find their way in the blockade, including often illegal means of acquiring the fuel necessary to feed their generators and continue their operations, residents told RFA Burmese.
Instead of its planned targets, the closure makes a much greater number on residents of the region, which is controlled by the force of the Karen border guard and the democratic Karen Buddhist army.
“Ordinary people suffer most from the Thai government’s fuel cuts,” said a mywaddy resident who used the Thura pseudonym for fear of reprisals. “Meanwhile, the gangs of the scam calls continue to receive fuel supplies with the aid” of rebel groups in the region.
The fuel is difficult to buy because the demand is high and the supply is low. The gas has almost doubled at 7,000 kyats per liter ($ 12.64 per gallon), said Thura.
In Myawaddy, opposite the Thai city of Mae Sot, the service stations are all closed and the residents must rather buy fuel from residents on the Thai side of the border.
Criminal gangs, based on their links with these local armed groups, can get what they need without much difficulty.
“On the other hand, ordinary people are struggling due to the shortages of fuel caused by illegal traders.”
The RFA attempts to contact Karen Border Guard Force, Lieutenant-Colonel Nai Maung Zaw, and the Chief of the Democratic Buddhist Buddhist Army, the chief of staff general of the DKBA army, saw San Aung, on March 10, to comment on these unanswered situations.
Illegal commercial roads
Kyaw Naing, a Myawaddy merchant who used a pseudonym for security reasons, told FRG that despite the Thai government’s prohibitions on 12 types of products – which also include batteries, inverters and generators – are still smuggled.
“The fuel is filled with MAE SOT cars to be sold in MYAWADY,” said Kyaw Naing. “The purchase of fuel can be somewhat difficult, but it is always possible because the border routes are not completely closed all the time.”
Prohibited Thai articles can also be imported from China, to the point that the ban is almost ineffective, he said, adding that the Thai government should reopen the fuel market since it is a fundamental need for the people.
RFA tried to contact Thin Thin Myat, president of the Myawaddy border trade chamber of trade to comment, but she did not respond.
With people who buy fuel in Thailand to sell Mae Sai’s sellers, far north of the MAE Sot-Myawaddy border crossing, now require that buyers only fill the gas tanks from their vehicles, not portable containers.
Repatriated workers
Meanwhile, the strength of the Karen border guard handled on Tuesday nearly 250 Indian and Malaysian workers who had been victims and detained in Chinese play deat and scam centers in Myawaddy to the authorities of their respective countries via the Mae Sot-Myawaddy friendship bridge.
Among these, 226 Indian nationals and 24 Malaysians. “Plans are in place to repatriate more foreign nationals in the coming days,” a spokesperson for the Border Guard force.
Between Monday and Tuesday, 509 Indian nationals were sent to the deck to the Indian authorities working alongside their Thai counterparts.
The strength of the Karen border guard claims to have carried out anti-scam and anti-human traffic operations for almost a month.
According to a source from their investigation office, around 3,000 scam workers in China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia were repatriated via Thailand.
Translated by Aung Naing and Thane Aung. Published by Eugene WHHONG and MALCOLM FOSTER.