Unfortunately, Myanmar is now paying the price for the successive governments indetermination on getting rid of EAOs and being soft on them. Allowing them to co-exist with the Union under self administration to allowing them to build up their own armies to sanction them to go without any central government audits or monitoring may not have been an acceptable idea on the hind side.
China is also paying a price, as its hardened criminals went offshore, to avoid ID based checks at every mode of travelling and stay clear of a horde of CCTVs larger than the population of China itself. Continuing to maintain cosy relationships of EAOs such as KIA (Kachin Independence Army) and Wa in the past two decades also allow these delinquents to travel freely between vast stretches of borders, jumping in and out of the two countries at will.
Most of them are holding duel IDs, illegal in both countries. All ringleaders speak Chinese as their mother tongue. Yet EAOs in Myanmar are providing a safe heaven for them.
MI spoke to outbound tour guides in both Beijing and Nanjing. The first thing that both mentioned was that Myanmar is unsafe for Chinese tourist to travel right now. Tour guide Michael from Beijing went as far as saying that Chinese (tourists) have been kidnapped and released only after their body organ e.g., kidney has been removed. Some have disappeared. John Wu from Nanjing was slightly more diplomatic. He said he heard stories about Chinese gangs operating freely within Myanmar and Chinese visitors are advised not to go there. Both of them do not seem to acknowledge that these misdeeds happened only in the border areas and most parts of Myanmar are generally safe.
Minister Aung Naing Oo spoke recently about the same fact. He told a Chinese news agencies that the rumours are exaggerated and Myanmar is safe for Chinese tourists to visit. His statements would probably fall on deaf ears, based on our general inquiries with tour guides.
Action Impossible
Chinese government has been pressuring Myanmar to clamp down on these cross border felons. Every high level visits including the ex-foreign minister Qin Gang highlighted trans-border cyber crime. Myanmar team of top MOHA officials, including Chief of Police, headed to Beijing in September, probably to discuss how to effectively cooperate on this matter.
Yet it is easier said than done. Myanmar has no reach over the areas in which these cyber crime headquarters are located. KIA in Kachin State has no peace agreement with Myanmar government. Neither with TNLA (Tanaung Liberation Army), near Koe Kant. The government may have some control over Koe Kant but the coverage is limited due to lack of resources. Wa is totally inaccessible, not allowing any of Myanmar government personnel, let alone the Army, to pass through its checkpoints. On the southern front, the Mya Waddy border town has been a refuge for runaways from Cambodia, after the latter crack down similar online scams and casinos operating there. Mya Waddy town is partly controlled by KNU (Karen National Union)and under constant state of clashes involving the PDF and KNU. (PDF, so called People Defence Force, are part of NNCP terrorist group). How could Myanmar government stop these lawless activities in areas where it neither has reach nor could venture without committing serious military resources!
The police did take some actions by arresting some Chinese gangsters, operating out of the capital. The mastermind did escape, probably due to some tip off. People under him, including ten or so local Myanmar supervisors and staff have been arrested. Even this operation is notable, involving sting operations in U Chit Maung Road, Tamwe township, a rented accommodation in Diamond Condo along Pyay Road and an office unit in Times City Office Tower.
This only came after Chinese police raided a hotel, occupied by a group of suspects visiting a festival event in Yunnan province. Those on the run were served with arrest warrants. They include two ministerial level personnel from Wa region, including one politburo member of UWSP (United Wa State Party) and a construction minister and another a mayor of a district in Wa State.
The crimes and the victims
The online skulduggery include advance fees fraud, online gambling, fraudulent investment schemes and love romance scams. The victims are not only those conned out of their hard earned savings. The people working under the godfathers are also victims too. They all get cheated into coming to these border towns lured by better paying non-existing jobs, forced into signing contracts that they could not possibly repudiate.
We heard of so many Myanmar people, being inhumanely chained to their beds at night (so that they will not escape). We have seen videos of them being tasered with electric shocks, for being lazy or unable to meet targets. Some of them were caned like livestocks, at regular intervals. Many Indian nationals have been rescued too, in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Myanmar. They also have been tricked into coming here under the disguise of high paying job offers. Many mainstream press from the region has also reported many cases of Chinese nationals falling into the same trap. They were conned into coming here. Forced to work as slaves to con unsuspecting parties of their savings, they would be forever traumatised, even may be to the point of ending their own lives. We would never know.
This brutal and sadistic modus operandi has to be stopped. China would not be soft in law and order. So, what is the solution for Myanmar?
Resolving EAO problem is the Key
If EAO all lay down their arms, there would be peace in Myanmar. If Myanmar military lay down their arms, there would be no Myanmar anymore. We could all start from this fundamental concept.
We have tried NCA, yet as we observed from KNU, a couple of millions from NUG or possibly CIA could make the NCA agreements all disappear into thin air. The government has given them the chance to be in line, for the sake of the country. May be the time for the soft talk and meetings is over.
How can we call ourselves the sovereign government if we cannot even venture into regions or areas that are definitely within the boundaries of our country’s map! It is time to finish up the world’s longest insurgencies once and fall all. As Chairman Mao stated, “Throw one hard punch NOW, to avoid taking a hundred punches in the future!”
