Smuggling of people - Burma-Myanmar related

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Websites/Multiple Documents

Title: *Youtube search for Burma OR Myanmar - "people smuggling"* (video)
Description: About 470 results (August 2017)
Source/publisher: Various sources via Youtube
Date of entry/update: 2017-08-24
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Individual Documents

Title: 17 girls and women now safe from sex trafficking in Myanmar
Description: "January 2024 Girls as young as 14-years-old were recently brought to safety from sex trafficking, in an operation run by an IJM partner and the Anti-Trafficking Task Force. The operation was initiated after one of the girls was reported missing by her aunt. She’d been coerced into forced labour at a restaurant before being trapped in sexual exploitation in a night club. Two perpetrators were also arrested at the brothel where the women and girls were found. As soon as the survivors were safe, an IJM-funded partner provided them with urgent aftercare support, including accommodation and health checks. Meanwhile, IJM’s legal partner ensured legal protection for the survivors by filing a case under the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Law. Six of the survivors received legal counselling and are involved in legal proceedings. Today, after receiving intensive support at a shelter, the women and girls are safely home with their families and guardians..."
Source/publisher: International Justice Mission
Date of publication: 2024-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2024-01-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Chinese are running new phishing scams across Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand. It’s a scamdemic
Sub-title: China has a history of working with organised crime syndicates to achieve political goals. This time, it has affected Chinese nationals.
Description: "After China opened its economy last year, ending its zero Covid policy, an old problem has roared back with a vengeance. Chinese authorities are grappling with the issue of their citizens operating fraudulent schemes from Southeast Asian countries, targeting mainland Chinese residents. China has a history of collaborating with organised crime syndicates in places like Australia, Canada, and Taiwan, employing criminal groups to achieve political objectives. However, the increasing prevalence of telecom fraud and human trafficking in Myanmar and the Golden Triangle area is now adversely affecting Chinese citizens. What has been described as ‘scamdemic’ encompasses a series of illicit activities, including human trafficking and online scams. The epicentre of these activities lies in Cambodia and the Golden Triangle area, which overlaps Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos and is notorious for illicit opium production and other criminal activities. Global threat of human trafficking Cambodia, particularly Sihanoukville, has long been known as a hub for Chinese nationals engaging in illicit activities, including gambling. However, these scams originating in Cambodia have now reached industrial scale, deterring Chinese tourists from visiting this once-preferred destination. In June, Interpol issued a warning about online scam centres operating from Cambodia, with networks extending into Laos and Myanmar. Interpol noted that initially, victims of human trafficking primarily came from Chinese-speaking regions such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore. However, victims are now drawn from as far away as Europe and South America, with even Indian nationals falling prey to job scams in Southeast Asian countries. “What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol. Interpol is not the only organisation sounding the alarm. In August, the United Nations reported that over 1,00,000 people were trafficked into Cambodia, and 1,20,000 into Myanmar. In recent months, the Chinese Public Security Bureau has conducted a large-scale crackdown on the scam centres, which appear to have tacit support from the governments in Cambodia and Myanmar. The Ministry of Public Security has said that it has “intensified the fight against telecom and online fraud” in the “Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, an area that comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, are two major hiding places of the fraudsters”. “Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has dispatched teams to countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos for cooperation on international law enforcement, with severe crackdowns on telecom fraud and human trafficking,” said an article in China Daily. The report was subsequently published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. China’s international security In a recent joint operation, Chinese police, in collaboration with local law enforcement in Myanmar, shut down approximately 11 dens operating fraudulent schemes. The bust resulted in the arrest of 269 suspects, including 189 Chinese nationals. In a separate action, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a massive crackdown on telecom scams in Northern Myanmar, resulting in the transfer of 1,207 suspects from Myanmar to Chinese law enforcement authorities in Yunnan. These suspects were apprehended in connection with telecom fraud cases affecting Chinese citizens. While improved relations between China and Myanmar have allowed Chinese public security agencies to conduct policing activities more effectively in the country, challenges remain. Interestingly, there is even a new Chinese blockbuster movie titled No More Bets, released in 2023, which educates people about the dangers of being lured into jobs in Southeast Asia and getting ensnared in networks of fraudsters. The film tells the story of a Chinese model and a computer programmer who are promised high-salary jobs overseas but end up becoming part of a trafficking network that forces Chinese nationals to work for an online fraud scheme. The movie has been a sensational hit, grossing over $500 million in its first month and drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking. As domestic economic prospects fray, Chinese nationals are increasingly seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia for investment and employment. However, they often find themselves entangled in a web of scams in politically unstable regions, where their fellow compatriots lure them into illicit activities. Global threat of human trafficking Cambodia, particularly Sihanoukville, has long been known as a hub for Chinese nationals engaging in illicit activities, including gambling. However, these scams originating in Cambodia have now reached industrial scale, deterring Chinese tourists from visiting this once-preferred destination. In June, Interpol issued a warning about online scam centres operating from Cambodia, with networks extending into Laos and Myanmar. Interpol noted that initially, victims of human trafficking primarily came from Chinese-speaking regions such as China, Malaysia, Thailand, or Singapore. However, victims are now drawn from as far away as Europe and South America, with even Indian nationals falling prey to job scams in Southeast Asian countries. “What began as a regional crime threat has become a global human trafficking crisis,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary-General of Interpol. Interpol is not the only organisation sounding the alarm. In August, the United Nations reported that over 1,00,000 people were trafficked into Cambodia, and 1,20,000 into Myanmar. In recent months, the Chinese Public Security Bureau has conducted a large-scale crackdown on the scam centres, which appear to have tacit support from the governments in Cambodia and Myanmar. The Ministry of Public Security has said that it has “intensified the fight against telecom and online fraud” in the “Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, an area that comprises parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, are two major hiding places of the fraudsters”. “Since the beginning of this year, the ministry has dispatched teams to countries including the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos for cooperation on international law enforcement, with severe crackdowns on telecom fraud and human trafficking,” said an article in China Daily. The report was subsequently published on the website of China’s Supreme People’s Court. Also read: Xi Jinping toured Northeast China during G20. His way of showing he has ‘other priorities’ China’s international security In a recent joint operation, Chinese police, in collaboration with local law enforcement in Myanmar, shut down approximately 11 dens operating fraudulent schemes. The bust resulted in the arrest of 269 suspects, including 189 Chinese nationals. In a separate action, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a massive crackdown on telecom scams in Northern Myanmar, resulting in the transfer of 1,207 suspects from Myanmar to Chinese law enforcement authorities in Yunnan. These suspects were apprehended in connection with telecom fraud cases affecting Chinese citizens. While improved relations between China and Myanmar have allowed Chinese public security agencies to conduct policing activities more effectively in the country, challenges remain. Interestingly, there is even a new Chinese blockbuster movie titled No More Bets, released in 2023, which educates people about the dangers of being lured into jobs in Southeast Asia and getting ensnared in networks of fraudsters. The film tells the story of a Chinese model and a computer programmer who are promised high-salary jobs overseas but end up becoming part of a trafficking network that forces Chinese nationals to work for an online fraud scheme. The movie has been a sensational hit, grossing over $500 million in its first month and drawing attention to the issue of human trafficking. As domestic economic prospects fray, Chinese nationals are increasingly seeking opportunities in Southeast Asia for investment and employment. However, they often find themselves entangled in a web of scams in politically unstable regions, where their fellow compatriots lure them into illicit activities. Also read: What is the no 1 search word on China’s Baidu? ‘Bharat’, ‘Modi’s table sign’ at G20 Growing clout Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative is a policy tool aimed at expanding China’s influence in the realm of human and national security beyond its immediate borders. The crackdown in Cambodia and Myanmar serves as an example of how China can leverage its security institutions to achieve specific objectives, highlighting China’s growing clout in the region. With significant economic challenges at home, Xi is keen to project strength in addressing large-scale fraud activities that harm Chinese nationals. Thus, this crackdown represents a display of power on an unprecedented scale in the Southeast Asia region. In the realm of high-table diplomacy, it is often easy to forget that people are the true drivers of geopolitical influence. Southeast Asia has emerged as a backyard for China’s externalised power projection and a destination for its citizens seeking new opportunities. The crackdown on ‘scamdemic’ illustrates that China is willing to use its externalised policing authority to address domestic issues on a scale never seen before, thereby expanding the reach of Chinese public security institutions..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: The Print
Date of publication: 2023-09-13
Date of entry/update: 2023-09-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar logs 111 human trafficking cases in 2020
Description: "Myanmar logged a total of 111 human trafficking cases in its states and regions last year, state-run media reported Tuesday, quoting the Anti-Trafficking Police Force's figures as saying. During the whole 2020, 167 people including 39 young girls were victimized while 339 traffickers were charged in connection with the cases. Regionally, Shan state registered with 37 cases, followed by Yangon region with 30 cases as well as Mandalay region and Kachin state with 10 cases each, among others. There were 22 domestic trafficking in persons in terms of forced labor, prostitution and forced marriage during the period. In 2019, 358 people including 297 females were victimized in connection with 239 human trafficking cases across the country. Under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children are sentenced to at least 10 years or up to lifetime sentence or fine while money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2021-01-05
Date of entry/update: 2021-01-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: 1,807 human trafficking victims rescued in Thailand in 2019
Description: "A TOTAL of 1,807 victims of human trafficking were rescued in Thailand last year, a marked increase from 622 in 2018. According to the Bangkok Post, the highest figure was 982 victims in 2015. Police said about 60 per cent of those rescued last year were women and most were trafficked for labour. “Nearly three-quarters of them were Burmese migrants bound for neighbouring Malaysia.” Lawyers and activists said the spike in victims uncovered by the authorities could put pressure on the nine government-run shelters that support survivors. They said this put a strain on the budget allocated for victims’ wellbeing and affected the ability of staff members to provide support. Thailand has ramped up efforts to tackle trafficking in recent years, under scrutiny from the United States and following criticism of its failure to stop trafficking in its multibillion-dollar seafood industry, and the sex trade. Those identified as trafficking victims can choose to receive help from the government. This includes staying at a shelter and being compensated through a state fund that provides living and rehabilitation expenses in addition to lost wages. Victims are also entitled to legal aid and job opportunities while awaiting trial to give testimony or being returned home..."
Source/publisher: "New Straits Times" (Malaysia)
Date of publication: 2020-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Trafficking of Myanmar College Student Sparks Probe Into Fishing Industry Abuses
Description: "Myanmar’s top human rights body said Wednesday it will investigate the domestic fishing industry’s use of workers sold to operators by human traffickers following a case involving a university student who went missing for weeks after being abducted by alleged traffickers. Myat Thura Tun, a history major at Dagon University in Yangon, was trafficked by brokers on Oct. 2 and sold to the operators of a fishing raft in Kha Pyat village, Pyapon township, in Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady region, for 700,000 kyats (U.S. $456), according to local media reports. He had worked on the raft for about 45 days when his family tracked him down and secured his release last week after paying 800,000 kyats (U.S. $521). The boy was physically and mentally traumatized, with the upper part of his left ear cut off and injuries on the rest of his body. Myat Thura Tun indicated that he had been tortured by a supervisor on the raft, local media said. Earlier this week, Myo Nyunt, spokesman of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), told the Myanmar media organization Mizzima that the party would work with the regional government in handling the case, meet with the victim, and discuss ways to eliminate human trafficking..."
Source/publisher: "Radio Free Asia (RFA)" (USA)
Date of publication: 2019-11-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar woman arrested for trafficking
Description: "A 37-year-old Myanmar woman was arrested earlier this month at a home in Samut Songkhram on charges of human trafficking and providing shelter to illegal migrants in an extended probe into a human trafficking ring, police said. The arrest was announced on Friday at a press conference by the Immigration Bureau. The suspect, who was identified only as "Ms A", was implicated by a Thai suspect, Thanachai Mangthim, a mail van driver who had been caught transporting 13 illegal Myanmar migrant workers to the Thai-Malaysian border in Songkhla in May. Mr Thanachai told police that he had been contacted by a Myanmar woman several times to transport migrant workers. He identified "Ms A" as his contact in photos shown at the Samut Songkhram immigration office..."
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-07-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Over 70% of human trafficking victims smuggled into China
Description: "More than 70 percent of human trafficking victims were smuggled into China, said Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein at the celebration of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day. Yangon observed the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Day at the Drug Elimination Museum on September 13 with the presence of the chief minister and Yangon Region Parliament speaker. "In all human trafficking cases, 79.61 percent of victims were trafficked into China, 1.46 percent into Thailand and 18.93 percent inside the country (Myanmar). Most were smuggled into China. Yangon Region saw 62 human trafficking cases with 14 males and 61 females totalling 75 from September 2018 to date. We could expose and took action against 176 traffickers—53 men and 123 women," said the chief minister. He said human trafficking is a human rights violations adding that countries with less economic development bear the brunt. He blamed human trafficking issue in Myanmar on economic problems, natural disasters and internal armed conflicts. There were 27 human trafficking cases across the country in August this year. In 21 of those cases, Myanmar women were sold into forced marriage in China, according to Myanmar Anti-Human Trafficking Police. In the 27 cases that happened in August, 46 people became victims and 72 offenders were arrested..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-09-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: UWSA Hands 2 Suspected Human Traffickers to Myanmar Police
Topic: brothel, KTV, sex trade, Trafficking, UWSA
Topic: brothel, KTV, sex trade, Trafficking, UWSA
Description: "The United Wa State Army (UWSA) on Saturday handed two women accused of human trafficking to police officers from Pegu Division who traveled to Lashio, northern Shan State, to take them into custody, according to local sources. Nyi Rang, a spokesperson for the UWSA based in Lashio, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the armed group arrested the two female human trafficking suspects as requested by Myanmar police. “For us, our only duty was to arrest them,” said Nyi Rang, who referred requests for further details about the trafficking allegation to the Myanmar police. The UWSA controls the Wa Self-Administered Division in northern Shan State. Nyi Rang said reports of human trafficking are not uncommon in the region. Myanmar police first asked the UWSA liaison office in Lashio to arrest the two women, who were wanted for alleged involvement in human trafficking and were staying in Panghsang, the capital of the Wa region. “We asked our police in Panghsang to arrest them,” said Nyi Rang, who posted a photo of UWSA troops handing over the two detainees to Myanmar police in Lashio on July 20. Myanmar police sent letters to the UWSA on July 2 describing the women’s alleged trafficking of a woman from Taungoo District in Pegu Division..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-07-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Nearly 200 human trafficking cases exposed across Myanmar in 9 months
Description: "Myanmar police have exposed a total of 191 human trafficking cases across the country in the first nine months of this year, according to figures released by the Anti-Trafficking Police Force on Wednesday. From January to September this year, 556 traffickers were charged in connection with the cases and 279 people were victimized. Altogether 25 people including seven children were victimized while 54 traffickers were charged in connection with 15 human trafficking cases in September alone. Under Myanmar's 2005 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, people who smuggle women and children were sentenced to at least 10 years or up to lifetime sentence or fine. Money or property received through trafficking will be confiscated by the government..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-10-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Seafood Slaves | Fault Lines
Description: "In 2015, evidence of slavery on a massive scale surfaced in the remote islands of eastern Indonesia..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera English"
Date of publication: 2016-03-09
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Thailand's Seafood Slaves
Description: "Human trafficking, slavery and murder in Kantang's seafood industry..."
Source/publisher: "Environmental Justice Foundation"
Date of publication: 2015-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Women of the Kachin Conflict: Trafficking and Militarized Femininity on the Burma-China Border
Description: "Trafficking and Militarized Femininity on the Burma-China Border Kachin State is an ethnic region in northern Burma that has long been in conflict with the central Burmese government.1 In 2011, a seventeen-year cease-fire was broken, resulting in the resumption of active warfare between the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)—the political arm of the Kachin people—and the Burmese military, at the government?s behest. In spite of ongoing attempts at peace negotiations, the Kachin Women?s Association of Thailand has documented an alarming number of atrocities—including rape, arbitrary arrest and torture—against civilians (Kachin Women?s Association of Thailand, 2013). The area has been documented to be an active conflict zone resulting in one of the worst humanitarian crisis? in the Mekong Sub-Region (Human Rights Watch, 2014). According to a report by the prior Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, over 120,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled to border areas of Burma and China to escape the fighting (Quintana, 2014), and these communities suffer from a lack of basic necessities and little to no foreign aid. These desperate conditions have left civilians—women, in particular—very vulnerable. As a result, trafficking in women ? often to Yunnan Province as forced brides ? is on the rise. This form of trafficking, however, has not been made a priority on the policy agendas of the Burmese or Chinese governments, and there is currently no official anti-trafficking policy operating within Kachin State..."
Creator/author: Erin M. Kamler
Source/publisher: International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015
Date of publication: 2015-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-08-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 209.76 KB
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