Eighty-four Indonesians who were rescued from scam centers in Myanmar have arrived at the Thai border city of Mae Sot as part of an ongoing repatriation effort involving Thailand, Myanmar, and China. The Indonesians crossed the Second Thailand Myanmar Friendship Bridge in two buses, accompanied by a police escort, before undergoing a screening process at a checkpoint that included health checks and identity verification.
These individuals were among more than 7,000 people from various countries currently held in the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy. Many of these individuals were reportedly lured to work in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos under false pretenses, only to find themselves trapped in illegal activities such as online gambling, bogus investment schemes, and false romances.
The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry is coordinating the repatriation of its citizens, with 84 Indonesians scheduled to fly to Jakarta on commercial flights. The ministry has indicated that approximately 6,800 Indonesians have fallen victim to illegal job scams in Myanmar and other countries in recent years.
Thailand's crackdown on scam networks has led to the repatriation of hundreds of individuals, including more than 600 Chinese citizens who were flown back to China on charter flights. Thai authorities have also cut off essential supplies to areas in Myanmar hosting scam centers, citing national security concerns.
While many individuals have already returned to their home countries, over 100 people from various nations remain in Thailand awaiting repatriation. The scale of the repatriation effort is straining Thai government resources, leading to delays in processing and raising concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis along the border.
Officials from Thailand, Myanmar, and China are expected to convene soon to address the logistical challenges posed by the crackdown and ensure the timely repatriation of those affected by the scam operations.
