A group of 261 foreigners from 12 countries has been handed over to Thai authorities in the town of Phop Phra, Thailand, after being rescued from Chinese scam operations in Myanmar’s Myawaddy Township. The victims were shipped across the Moei River by the junta-aligned Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), which controls the area.
Many of those rescued showed signs of torture and mental distress. Victims reported bruises on their legs, arms, and upper bodies, as well as eye injuries. A Pakistani national stated that he was subjected to electric shocks daily, while others claimed they were tortured for refusing to meet scam quotas or cooperate with Chinese gangs.
DKBA officials denied any involvement in the torture, but promised to investigate and punish those responsible. Brig-Gen Sai Kyaw Hla, DKBA commander in Khyauk Khet, claimed he would take action against employers and soldiers involved, including offering compensation to one of the victims.
The rescue is a small fraction of the estimated number of foreigners still being held in scam centers across Myawaddy Township and beyond. The DKBA has transferred nearly 500 foreigners out of Khyauk Khet over the past four months, as it has enforced orders against Chinese businesses in the area.
Source: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/freed-scam-center-victims-tell-of-torture-by-karen-militia.html