A GROUP of 275 foreign scam workers, mostly Ethiopians and other Africans, who were among thousands rescued from call centre complexes in Myawaddy township, just across from Thai border town Mae Sot, early February almost clashed with Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) fighters as they rose up to protest being held at a squalid, overcrowded temporary camp saying they could not stand it anymore and want to return home via Thailand, TV Channel 7 and MNG Online said today (Apr. 14).
They said in English, “We don’t fight but we want to return home. Please release and send us to Tak province, Thailand.”
They added that they had been patiently waiting and living in difficult conditions, both in terms of cramped space and lack of food and medicine for over two months.
They carried and dragged their bags as they attempted to leave the camp and cross over to the Thai side to return home. The situation was very tense and almost led to a clash with DKBA fighters amid heated arguments and threats to use weapons.
However, DKBA finally defused the tension by promising to transfer all 275 of them to Myanmar junta officials in Myawaddy on Apr. 18 so as to enter repatriation process.
Meanwhile, Thai soldiers are still observing and maintaining security along the border to prevent scam workers from sneaking across. Senior officers said Thailand has a clear repatriation process and has already helped send over 8,000 rescued scam workers back home. Should any of them illegally cross the border they will be prosecuted.
The delay in the repatriation process is not due to Thailand but the country of origin not being ready to receive them.
The Thai government had on Feb. 5 cut off electricity, Internet and fuel supplies from five points to three Myanmar townships abutting the Thai border – Tachileik, Myawaddy and Payathonzu – to suppress call centre gangs holed up there.
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Scam workers protesting and trying to leave a squalid camp in Myawaddy. Photos: MGN Online
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