Thailand plans power cuts to curb trafficking

Thailand has announced plans to cut off internet, electricity and fuel supplies to five locations in Myanmar suspected of harboring scam operations, starting 9 am on Wednesday.

The move by the National Security Council aims to tackle human trafficking by call center scam gangs that ensnare foreign victims and force them into telecom fraud. Thailand has been used as a transit spot for these illicit activities.

On Tuesday, Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai ordered the Provincial Electricity Authority, or PEA, to cut off power to suspected scam call centers in Myanmar, citing the severe effects on Thailand and damage to its image.

Phumtham cited a 1996 Cabinet resolution that allows the PEA to suspend electricity without prior Cabinet approval.

The decision followed a statement by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who instructed Phumtham to consult with the National Security Council for a detailed action plan.

"The plan should give enough thought to Thailand's state security as well as the safety and benefits of Thai people. If power suspension is needed, actions should be carried out firmly," said Paetongtarn, who is making an official visit to China from Wednesday to Saturday.

She said the issue of call center scams will be included in bilateral talks as both countries are now focusing on the matter.

Official statistics show that more than 500,000 Thais fell victim to call center scams between June 2022 and the end of last year, with telecom fraud causing more than 60 billion baht ($1.8 billion) in financial losses.

Phumtham is set to visit Mae Sot district, which borders Myanmar, on Thursday for an on-site inspection. The area is believed to be a shelter for scam syndicates. His visit is seen as a crucial step in finalizing details of the planned power cuts.

Last week, Liu Zhongyi, China's assistant minister of public security, also visited Mae Sot district.

Following a National Security Council meeting on Monday, Phumtham told reporters that the government is considering reducing electricity supply by half to Myanmar areas suspected of housing criminal syndicates involved in telecom fraud.

The meeting, co-chaired by officials from the Interior Ministry and the PEA, aimed to outline further measures to combat illegal call center activities near the border. The issue of cutting off power to Myanmar border townships has been dragging on for months.

After the meeting, Chamnanwit Terat, deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Ministry, told reporters that some areas in the border townships were showing unusually high electricity consumption. Some Myanmar companies with concessions to buy electricity from the PEA are believed to be linked to the call centers, he added.

National Security Council Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad said there are five locations where the electricity supply is provided to Myanmar from the PEA, but the main consumers are in Tachileik, which borders Thailand's Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai Province, and Myawaddy, which borders Mae Sot district in Tak Province.

Joint committee

To inspect power usage in these areas, a joint working committee will be established, Chatchai said.

Any decision to cut off power must be carefully considered, based on studies and investigations, he said, adding that the potential effect on residents in neighboring Myanmar should also be taken into account.

Currently, Thailand's electricity supply to several Myanmar border regions operates under legally binding contracts between Myanmar and the PEA. Any suspension of power would require Cabinet approval, as these agreements were previously endorsed by the Cabinet.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the ministry has asked the National Security Council to identify areas in Myanmar that the council believes are being used by scammers and other criminals.

"If we can confirm the information, the Interior Ministry is ready to cut off the power supply," he said.

The Thailand-Myanmar border region has seen a series of telecom fraud cases, posing serious threats to the local communities. Several recent incidents, including cases where Chinese citizens were deceived and illegally detained at the border, have drawn widespread public attention.

yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn