Myanmar repatriates hundreds of scam center victims

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Hundreds of telecom scam center victims have been repatriated from Myanmar to their native countries, Bangkok Post reported.

At least 200 Chinese nationals crossed into Thailand on Thursday for their forward flights to China.

Myanmar, Thai, and Chinese officials are “working with the relevant agencies to collect personal information of these individuals for prompt repatriation,” the daily Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday.

Some 600 Chinese are expected to fly home by Saturday.

The Chinese nationals are part of the thousands expected to be evacuated from the scam centers following pressure from the Chinese government and Thailand's suspension of power, oil, and internet services to the regions earlier this month.

The call-center compounds, operated by criminal gangs, employ foreign workers, many of whom claim they were trafficked and forced to participate in running internet scams that deceive people globally.

Some survivors of the scam centers said that the cuts and bruises on their bodies were caused by beatings and electric shocks they endured.

Thai Prime Minster Paetongtarn Shinawatra said Wednesday that some 7,000 people, many of them being of foreign origin, were rescued from scam centers in Myanmar.

Regarding the repatriation efforts, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said: “The aim is to eradicate the harmful tumor of online fraud, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property.”

“Firmly combating online gambling and telecom fraud crimes is an inevitable choice to safeguard the common interests of regional countries.”