Discussions about combating transnational criminal activities with Cambodia
Thailand and Cambodia to Strengthen Cooperation Against Transnational Crimes
In a move to intensify joint efforts, Thailand and Cambodia will hold a mini joint cabinet meeting this July in Sa Kaeo province. The focus will be on pressing cross-border issues such as fraudulent call centers, PM2.5 pollution, and drug and human trafficking.
Spokesman Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday that aside from information and evidence exchange in criminal investigations, they will target the disruption of telecom and internet signals used by scam networks, tighter border security, and enforcing legal work permits for Thai nationals in Cambodia.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has instructed all relevant government agencies to collaborate closely with private network providers to curb cyber and telecom-based crime. The ultimate goal is to enhance public safety and improve living standards on both sides of the border.
Meanwhile, Myanmar's Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) has called on the Thai government to reconsider its decision to cut electricity supplies to Myawaddy township, which has been in effect since February. The BGF claims that the power cuts have had minimal impact on scam networks, which continue to operate using satellite internet services like Starlink and alternative fuel sources, but have greatly affected locals and students.
The electricity cuts, though yielding mixed results, reveal intricate geopolitical dynamics and unintended consequences. In Myawaddy, fuel shortages forced residents to buy fuel at inflated prices from Thai border towns, straining infrastructure, and increasing petrol prices to 135 baht/litre. Despite the power cuts, scam operations continued, relying on backup generators supplied by the Karen National Union (KNU) and Border Guard Force (BGF).
Thailand's actions, seemingly performative, are linked to economic ties, with Thai businesses profiting from supplying materials, electronics, and food to scam compounds. It also aims to prevent a crime surge in Thailand by mitigating the cross-border influx of scammers. Additionally, China has pressured Thailand to maintain utility cuts to combat fraud networks exploiting Chinese nationals.
Critics warn that Thailand's negligence could exacerbate civil unrest in Myawaddy and perpetuate lawlessness in Myanmar's borderlands due to the power disparity between state and non-state actors. The BGF, with a 6,000-strong paramilitary force, maintains de facto autonomy over the region. Myanmar's attempt to remove the BGF's leader, Saw Chit Thu, failed, cementing his control and the region's role as a fraud hub.
In essence, Thailand's policy is a delicate dance between addressing international pressure and preserving economic and political interests tied to Myanmar's fragmented border governance.
- The mini joint cabinet meeting between Thailand and Cambodia, scheduled for July in Sa Kaeo province, will also discuss strategies for strengthening security, including efforts to disrupt telecom and internet signals used by scam networks and tighter border security.
- Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand has urged all relevant agencies to work closely with private network providers to combat cyber and telecom-based crime, such as the one happening in Cambodia, in order to enhance public safety and improve living standards, a goal shared with their neighboring country.
- In the context of general news and crime-and-justice, the ongoing issue of cross-border criminal activities between Thailand and Cambodia, including fraudulent call centers, drug and human trafficking, and scam networks, is a concern not only for the two countries but also for the international community, as highlighted by the recent joint cabinet meeting announcement.
