Chinese nationals associated with scam guarded by DKBA in Phayarthonzu, Kayin
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Phyo/Thant Zin (NP News) - July 8
In Phayarthonzu Township on the Myanmar-Thai border in Kayin State, locals told The NP News that the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) is providing full security to Chinese nationals associated with the online scam.
Phayarthonzu town is controlled by the DKBA, and on February 9, No. 2 military strategy headquarters of DKBA issued a statement that it would ban Chinese nationals involved in the online scam from entering the town.
Currently, some Chinese nationals are living in Phayarthonzu and its surrounding villages, and armed men provide security whenever they go outside, according to a local resident.
“The online scammers have already reached the villages, and only a few in the city are left. They are in villages controlled by armed groups. The Chinese have moved to the villages controlled by the DKBA, such as Kyawtpalu, Chaungson, Hteelaung Lue, and Kyain Chaung. The online scammers will continue to grow, like before. When the Chinese go outside, they are escorted by armed men from behind,” the above-mentioned local said.
In addition, the Thai government began cutting off electricity and fuel exports to Phayarthonzu on February 5 to combat online fraud along the Thai-Myanmar border, and the town is currently using solar panels for electricity at a cost of hundreds of thousands of kyat, the source said.
“The electricity is not available right now, so almost the whole town has installed solar panels. And the whole city has only Starlink lines. All the phone lines have been cut off, so we have to talk with Starlink. It has been cut off for almost three months. Some houses have Thai WiFi,” he added.
In addition, the above-mentioned source said that the number of robberies in Phayarthonzu has increased more than before, and there have been at least three robberies and murders in the past few days, which has caused local residents to be concerned about the rule of law in the town.
“The law is no longer questionable. There is no law in Phayarthonzu. Only armed men are scattered wherever they want. Now the population is getting denser. It is no longer possible to rent houses,” he added.