Amid ongoing trilateral meetings between Myanmar, Thailand and China on the repatriation of foreigners involved in scam operations, and their transfer through the Thai-Myanmar border, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa met with junta boss Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyitaw to discuss the cyber scam crackdown.
Thai Chief of Defense Forces General Songwit Noonpackdee also met with junta Defense Minister Maung Maung Aye to discuss border security.
The junta boss separately met the Thai foreign minister and the Russian economic development minister on Saturday. He received the Russian minister in the Credentials Hall in front of Thihathana Palin—the Lion Throne, the symbol of Myanmar’s national sovereignty—where he usually receives VIPs, but received the Thai foreign minister in the Bayintnaung Hall.
The junta has previously blamed Thailand for scam operations near the border in Karen State’s Myawaddy Township, claiming that electricity, internet, weapons and building materials to run the scam compounds came from Thailand.
Min Aung Hlaing and the Thai foreign minister discussed ways to facilitate the exchange of information on the scam crackdown and to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors. As usual, the junta boss briefed the minister on his plans to hold an election.
The Thai general and Maung Maung Aye discussed increased defense cooperation and border security, the junta media reported.
Beijing has been pressuring regional countries including Myanmar and Thailand to act since some Chinese citizens including celebrities were trafficked across the border to Myawaddy in January, resulting in a crackdown on scam hubs in the Karen State town.
Junta Transport Minister Mya Tun Oo then traveled to Thailand and Border Affairs Minister Lieutenant General Yar Pyae flew to Laos to discuss anti-scam efforts. A Thai military delegation led by General Direk Bongkarn, head of the Thai Army’s Neighboring Countries Coordination Center, also visited Naypyitaw to discuss anti-scam operations with junta second-in-command Soe Win and Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) Kyaw Swar Lin.
Chinese Assistant Public Security Minister Liu Zhongyi, who is overseeing the scam crackdown at the Thai-Myanmar border, and Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia held separate talks with junta Foreign Minister Than Swe and Home Affairs Minister General Tun Tun Naung on Feb. 14 on intensifying the joint crackdown on border scam hubs, the repatriation of those rescued from scam compounds and the transfer of Chinese criminals wanted by Beijing, as well as to arrange for further meetings between high-ranking officials of Myanmar, Thailand, and China.
The junta’s propaganda newspapers reported on Tuesday that 2,370 foreign nationals involved in scam operations who illegally entered Myanmar through neighboring countries including Thailand had been arrested. According to the reports, 673 of them were handed over through Thailand, and arrangements were being made to transfer the remaining individuals. Most of the detainees are from China and the rest are from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nepal, Rwanda, Kenya, Kazakhstan and Cambodia.
