The serenity of a late afternoon on the Moei River that divides Thailand from Myanmar is broken by three thunderous explosions. The ethnic Karen families bathing and playing in the water make a panicked dash for the river bank, as a plume of dark smoke rises from the trees behind them.
The conflict ignited by the Myanmar military's coup nearly five years ago has come back to the border. But the fighting this time is linked to the scam compounds, run by Chinese crime syndicates, which have proliferated in Karen State in the past two years.
We are working to completely eradicate online scam activities from their roots, the Myanmar junta's spokesman Gen Zaw Min Tun said. But there are good reasons for scepticism about the military's claims. Now, for the first time, Myanmar's long civil war and its scam crisis are entwined.
After losing control of large areas of the country to insurgent groups, earlier this year, the military junta has counter-attacked, reinforced by new conscripts and new equipment like drones supplied by Russia and China. In Karen State it has driven back the forces of its main opponent, the Karen National Union, which has been one of the staunchest opponents of the coup.
Suddenly, at the end of October, the army stormed KK Park, one of the largest and most notorious scam compounds in Karen State, driving out thousands of foreigners running online fraud schemes—some voluntarily, some being tricked or trafficked.
This was a striking change of heart, given the military's previous indifference to the multi-billion dollar scam business that had rapidly expanded along its border with Thailand. Local warlords allied to the military had served as protectors of the Chinese scam bosses, becoming very wealthy in the process.
Billions of dollars have been lost globally due to various scams, many linked to human trafficking and extensive human rights abuses. The international community has increasingly coordinated efforts to combat these frauds, pressured partly by the Chinese government, which has also seen many of its citizens victimized.
Recent military actions against the KK Park scammers might be a response to increasing international scrutiny. However, the efficacy of these efforts is questionable. The razed structures do not appear to have eliminated the scam infrastructure completely, and other similar centers remain operational.
As the situation evolves, these military operations seem to focus primarily on high-visibility targets while avoiding a comprehensive approach to dismantling the fraudulent enterprises thriving in the region. Although thousands of foreign scam workers have fled, the underlying conditions enabling these scams persist. This complex situation is further complicated by the military’s plans for a controversial election in December, attempting to portray itself as a legitimate government amidst ongoing unrest.
