Over 5,300 people trapped in online scam centers in Myanmar, says human rights group. Thai-based Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victim Assistance (CSNHTV) reported many victims are foreign nationals held in four sites controlled by Myanmar Democratic Karen Buddhist Army militia,despite last year's multinational crackdown.
Among trapped,about 1,600 are Chinese nationals,while around 200 are from Myanmar. Group also found victims from Philippines,Taiwan,Malaysia,Brazil,Russia,Kenya,Uganda,Rwanda,and Zimbabwe. CSNHTV urged Thai police to act,stressing many of these places still operate without rescue efforts.
These scam centers let criminal rings thrive,mainly in online fraud and human trafficking. Victims reach US and Europe. UN noted a big rise in such centers during COVID-19, linking it to poorly run casinos and online gambling. Started small,now it's massive…
UN report in February detailed conditions inside,showing they’re mostly staffed by foreign nationals trafficked by criminal groups. Victims endure severe abuses: torture,sexual exploitation,forced abortions,food deprivation,solitary confinement. UN Human Rights chief Volker Turk called it “staggering and at same time heart-breaking.”
Despite their dire situation,many victims face disbelief and stigma instead of protection and help they need. Report calls for urgent action to dismantle these centers,bring justice to those affected. But without intervention,abuse and exploitation cycles likely persist,leaving many stuck in this global web…
