Photo: Ruediger Strohmeyer | Pixabay
Thailand is set to cut electricity supply to Myanmar towns, which are suspected to have ties to growing networks. The crackdown follows growing international scrutiny, especially after the high-profile trafficking of a Chinese actor near the Thai-Myanmar border last month.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that the National Security Council would convene on Tuesday afternoon to finalise plans for the power supply suspension, reports Bloomberg.
The announcement comes just before Paetongtarn’s visit to China, where she will meet President Xi Jinping. The agenda will cover trade cooperation and efforts to combat cyber fraud in neighbouring regions. The prime minister also aims to reassure Chinese tourists about Thailand’s safety after concerns arose due to the recent trafficking case.
“There is no hesitation on this. We can cut off power immediately,” said Paetongtarn. “We must take care of our people first. This has had a significant impact on Thais and the country’s image.”
Across Southeast Asia, cyber scam operations have proliferated, particularly in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. Many of these networks are reportedly run by Chinese fugitives who fled their home country in 2020 amid a domestic crackdown. These criminal enterprises have taken root in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden territories, where the military junta struggles to maintain control against rebel factions.
Earlier on Tuesday, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed that the government could direct the Provincial Electricity Authority, which provides power to Myanmar, to cease supply as an urgent national security measure.
Last year, reports emerged that Chinese scam operations were running rampant in the Kokang region of Myanmar. However, the Chinese government had begun dismantling these operations and bringing the criminals to justice.
To counter these scams, six Asian nations — China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam — came together to root out cyber scam operations in these countries’ border regions.
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