The Myanmar military began cracking down on the KK Park in Myawaddy, on the Myanmar-Thailand border, on October 16th, and continued raids this week. Reports indicate that thousands of people fled overnight during the chaos, with over 800 entering Thailand, 677 arrested by the Thai military, and others taken into custody by the Myanmar military at the Myanmar-Thailand border.
Massive Escapes
Following the Myanmar military’s raid on the KK Park, witnesses reported that those escaping the park left on foot, on electric scooters, or in trucks. A staff member who left the KK Park said that on October 22nd, over 1,000 people were seen leaving the park on foot, on motorcycles, or in trucks.
After leaving the park, some attempted to cross into Thailand via the Mae River by boat or by swimming. Some escapees reportedly drowned in the rapids of the Mae River; others fled deeper into Myawaddy town rather than heading to Thailand, fearing they might be deported and face severe punishment.
Taxi fares from the village where the KK Park is located to Myawaddy Township have reportedly doubled, and accommodations and hotels in Myawaddy Township are already overcrowded. Unlike previous crackdowns, this time the Myanmar military did not involve large-scale detentions. The large-scale escape caused widespread panic in the local society.
On October 24th, more than 100 fraud suspects who had escaped from the KK Park were waiting near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, hoping to be allowed into Thailand. They fled the park after learning that the Myanmar military was about to raid the KK Park. Residents near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge reported that approximately 500 people who had been waiting there were taken away by Myanmar military trucks.
Thai security authorities set up four temporary shelters in Mae Sot County, on the border. As of the evening of October 23rd, they had accommodated over 800 foreigners, nearly reaching capacity. The number of people being accommodated is expected to increase. Official Thai data previously released indicated that 677 individuals, 618 men and 59 women, had been arrested for crossing the border into Thailand. These individuals came from various countries, including the Philippines, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Kenya, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
Sawant, deputy governor of Tak Province in Thailand’s western border region, stated that Thai immigration police and military task forces are working together to provide assistance according to humane procedures and identify whether the fleeing individuals are suspected fraudsters or trapped victims of human trafficking. Those who are not victims may be charged with illegal border crossing. Thai authorities have also prepared additional detention space in case the existing space is insufficient. Thai border forces have also increased their presence and are working closely with local security agencies to respond to this situation and maintain order on the Thai-Myanmar border.
30 Starlink Devices Seized
The Myanmar Defense Force recently conducted a crackdown on cyber fraud operations in the country’s border areas, seizing 30 SpaceX Starlink receivers and accessories.
According to reports, the Myanmar Defense Force has been conducting continuous crackdown operations on the Myanmar side of the Myanmar-Thailand border since early September. During the operation, the Myanmar Defense Force seized 30 Starlink receivers and accessories in the KK Industrial Park in Karen State, searched over 100 buildings, and detained 2,198 individuals involved in fraud and gambling.
The report also stated that the Myanmar Defense Force will continue its full-scale crackdown operations in border areas. The latest analysis suggests that the Myanmar government’s recent series of raids is aimed at demonstrating to the international community its efforts to combat cybercrime.
In response, Lauren Dreyer, Vice President of SpaceX, announced on social media on the 21st local time that the company had identified and disabled over 2,500 Starlink devices near a Myanmar cyber fraud park.
Dreyer stated in the post that the company had “proactively identified” and disabled over 2,500 Starlink devices near a suspected fraud center in Myanmar.
