I need help, declared a man on the phone, his voice filled with quiet desperation. Known as Mike, the Ethiopian is one of 450 individuals confined in a building within Myanmar, near the border with Thailand. These individuals are among the many who have been liberated from the infamous scam compounds that have plagued the Thai-Myanmar border for years. However, despite their release, many remain stranded in Myanmar, residing in makeshift camps due to the slow process of assessing them and organizing flights back to their home countries.
The armed militia groups responsible for holding these individuals have limited resources to sustain more than 7,000 people. Reports indicate that conditions in the camps are unsanitary, with insufficient food, and many freed workers, including Mike, are in poor health. Mike suffers from panic attacks after enduring a year in a scam centre where he faced routine beatings. He recounts receiving only two basic meals a day, with just two toilets available for 450 people, forcing them to relieve themselves wherever possible.
Mike initially accepted what he believed to be a promising job in Thailand, requiring only good English and typing skills. Instead, he found himself trapped in a brutal regime, forced to work long hours to meet online fraud targets set by his Chinese bosses. "It was the worst experience of my life," he recalled, noting the abuse he and others suffered. He is one of an estimated 100,000 individuals lured to work in scam operations along the Thai-Myanmar border, predominantly run by Chinese fraud and gambling operatives exploiting the region's lawlessness.
Despite harrowing accounts of abuse, thousands continue to be drawn to these operations by the promise of good money, especially from areas where employment opportunities are scarce. While China has taken action to shut down scam operations along its border with Myanmar, similar efforts along the Thai-Myanmar border have only recently gained momentum. The release of scam workers commenced over two weeks ago after Thailand, pressured by China and local politicians, disrupted power, telecommunications, and banking access to the compounds.
The Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a breakaway insurgent faction of the ethnic Karen community, now guards the camp housing Mike. Previously, they protected many scam compounds in the area. Thailand is working to process the former scam workers and facilitate their return home. However, the process is complicated by the diverse nationalities of the freed individuals, some of whom hail from countries with limited efforts to repatriate their citizens.
Several challenges hinder progress, including a lack of diplomatic representation from countries like Ethiopia, and financial constraints preventing some African countries from flying their citizens home. Additionally, freed workers are often without passports, withheld by compound bosses. Thailand is cautious about bringing over thousands it may have to support indefinitely and aims to screen individuals to distinguish genuine victims from potential criminal associates.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasized the need for continued efforts against the scam business, acknowledging the growing humanitarian crisis among freed workers. NGOs report distressing conditions, including inadequate sanitation and high rates of tuberculosis among those screened. Meanwhile, Thailand appears ready to repatriate a group of 94 Indonesians, following persistent efforts by their embassy.
As Mike and others remain in limbo, fears grow that they may be returned to scam bosses if not allowed to cross into Thailand soon. "I just want to go home," Mike pleaded, expressing his desire to return to his country.
