Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has called on the Thai government to expedite the prosecution of three Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) leaders by formally asking a court to issue arrest warrants against them.
Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is seeking arrest warrants for Colonel Saw Chit Thu, Lieutenant Colonel Mote Thone and Major Tin Win over alleged involvement in human trafficking amid recent crackdowns on scam operations near the border, particularly in Myawaddy, Karen State.
Thai Enquirer reported on Feb. 19, however, that no resolution has been reached between the DSI and prosecutors on issuing arrest warrants, while more than 6,000 individuals are awaiting repatriation. The report stated that prosecutors believe the evidence may still be insufficient for the court to issue warrants against the trio.
JFM said in a statement issued on Tuesday that it welcomed the DSI’s efforts in seeking warrants for the three BGF leaders for human trafficking.
It stated that the issuance of arrest warrants would be a crucial step in addressing “rampant criminality” perpetuated by the BGF leaders along the Thai border.
“The depth of the Karen BGF’s involvement in the cyber scam industry means they must not be allowed to escape justice through short term gestures to [defuse] the situation,” it added.
It urged the Thai government to proceed with the next legal steps to ensure their accountability.
Online scam centers have mushroomed near the border since the 2021 coup, with many relocating to Myawaddy after being targeted by the anti-regime Operation 1027 in northern Shan State last year.
The BGF’s Saw Chit Thu runs Shwe Kokko in a joint venture with Yatai International, owned by She Zhijiang, a Chinese national with dual Cambodian citizenship who is wanted by China.
The BGF’s involvement in Chinese-run online scams, illegal casinos and online gambling operations in Myawaddy was exposed by JFM in May last year.
Last month, the BGF came under the spotlight again when the trafficking of a Chinese celebrity to Myawaddy made global headlines.
As pressure from China mounted, Thailand on Feb. 5 cut electricity, internet services and fuel supplies to five areas in Myanmar including BGF-controlled territory in Myawaddy. The Thai government stated that the call-center gangs operating in these areas pose a threat to national security.
Saw Chit Thu and his children collectively own nine Karen BGF companies. Among them are two cyber scam compounds through the companies Myanmar Apollo International Investment Company Limited (Apollo Park) and Yulong Bay Resort Tourism Development Company Limited (Yulong Bay Park), JFM stated in Tuesday’s statement.
Meanwhile, Tin Win and his wife Nan Myint Myint Win jointly control Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Holdings Limited and Shwe Myint Thaung Yinn Industry & Manufacturing Company Limited, it added.
The latter has been contracted to import power from the Thai state-owned Provincial Electricity Authority, powering scam centers and online casino operations in Myawaddy Township, the report stated.
Following Thailand’s cutoff, the Karen BGF allied with the Myanmar junta handed over thousands of Chinese scam center workers to be repatriated through Thailand.
The junta stated on Tuesday that between Jan. 30 and Feb. 24, 2025, a total of 2,370 illegal foreign migrants were found at scam centers and detained, 673 of whom have been repatriated through Thailand.
The illegal foreign migrants include citizens of China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nepal, Thailand, Rwanda, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Taiwan, with the majority from China, the junta stated.
