By Swan Pyae
T HE people of Myanmar should know the reality. The KNU, which has acted in disgraceful ways, has once again misled certain countries and is now trying to deceive the Myanmar public. They had long been involved in telecom fraud, enriching themselves while causing enormous harm to others, paving their way with the tears, sweat, and suffering of countless victims and leaving their lives destroyed. They concealed these crimes from the international community. When the Myanmar Tatmadaw, acting for the dignity of all Myanmar citizens, moved in and dismantled the areas where telecom fraud operations were being carried out. Only after Tatmadaw had taken action to root out and eliminate these networks did the KNU begin to show up, pretend to “seize” places, and falsely claim credit. Such actions can only be seen as deeply inappropriate and shameful.
As a national responsibility
Myanmar has designated the eradication of telecom fraud (online scams) and online gambling operations in the KK Park area of Myawady, Kayin State, as a national responsibility and is actively carrying out counter-measures. This is not something new. Myanmar and China previously formed a joint task force and jointly cracked down on telecom fraud and online gambling operations in the Laukkai area of Shan State (North). During that operation, a total of 53,388 individuals involved in such activities were transferred back to their respective countries.
At present, as well, the KNU has been using economic projects for regional development as a pretext while once again running illegal casinos and leading telecom fraud and online gambling operations in Myawady on the Myanmar–Thailand border.
Nearly all areas controlled by Kayin armed groups and PDFs were facilitated with full infrastructure, such as roads, electricity, and internet, deploying thousands of foreign workers. It is obvious where the machinery, equipment, labour force, internet access, and other resources required for these illegal operations came from. Certainly, they did not originate from Myanmar. Therefore, China, Thailand, and Myanmar have been cooperating to suppress and dismantle all organizations involved in illegal activities. These joint operations have been effective. As part of a national responsibility, the areas of Shwe Kokko, KK Park, and Chongkhaed areas where illegal operations had been taking place, have been designated as three zones, and systematic clearance and destruction operations are being carried out. Within a week, authorities were able to dismantle over a thousand buildings, seize thousands of computers and mobile phones, and destroy hundreds of Starlink communication devices. Illegal foreign nationals were also transferred back to their respective countries. All of these developments are part of Myanmar’s nationwide efforts to eradicate online scam operations, well known both domestically and internationally.
It’s like a story in which realities cannot be covered completely
As KNU attacked the Phalu (Minletpan) area, south of Myawady, on 24 November, the situation of such an area was slightly complicated. KNU reportedly occupied the DKBA camp located there and took control of a telecom fraud site.
They then claimed that they called on the international community to bring the foreign nationals involved in the telecom fraud activities back from the area they occupied. Immediately after occupying the site, they contacted Thailand and international agencies, sent notifications, gathered supposed evidence, formed verification teams, and deployed security personnel. Their actions appeared so coordinated and prepared — almost like a carefully scripted plan — that it seemed as if they were simply following someone’s instructions. The entire sequence of events resembled a staged storyline.
In addition, they claimed they were becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of the foreign nationals and appealed to the international community to rescue them and to cooperate in eliminating telecom fraud. They even appeared emotional while making these appeals. In reality, the situation looked much more like the KNU had carried out an attack and then detained the foreign nationals themselves. Their requests for assistance were directed mainly towards the People’s Republic of China and Thailand. These are the same countries that have already been cooperating with Myanmar in recent weeks to combat telecom fraud along the border areas. It is unclear what they were so urgently worried about, but they spoke as if invoking humanitarian principles. Yet hearing such statements from KNU – an organization responsible for brutally killing Myanmar migrant workers in groups, and committing serious rapes – only highlights the contradiction. Their words are heard simply because they are spoken, not because they carry credibility.
KNU reportedly separated the detained foreign nationals by country and ethnicity, recorded their fingerprints, and systematically collected and organized their documents. Observing how quickly and efficiently KNU carried out these actions, it appears that they are highly experienced in this type of activity. Their handling of the situation suggests they are far from unfamiliar with online scam operations; instead, they seem well-versed and practised in such work. They may not realize that, despite trying to hide it, their experience is showing through. It is also reported that a DKBA leader involved in the recent clashes with the KNU is among the four DKBA leaders designated for sanctions by the US Treasury Department.
This is not surprising. Because various armed groups control different parts of the border, it is undeniable that many of the ethnic armed organizations in those areas, whether to a minor or significant extent, have been involved in or connected to telecom fraud operations. In this context, the fact that sanctions have been placed specifically on a DKBA leader who is currently cooperating with Tatmadaw is unusual but not unexpected.
The things hidden in the background
A question should be asked of KNU: Why did they never resolve these deeply rooted criminal operations in the past? Why are they only now suddenly acting as if they are rescuers? Although they say they are appealing to the “international community”, it is clear that the country they want to bring in is the United States. What they are doing is essentially opening a pathway for the US to enter Myanmar. They are preparing the stage in advance and shifting blame onto others, pretending they had no involvement in the telecom fraud activities they had long benefited from. As the election approaches, they are creating instability and undermining the current situation of the country. This situation can also be seen as evidence relevant to their stated intention to disrupt and destroy the election as a supposed “national duty”.
Who has controlled these areas from the beginning? Who has been responsible for these numerous telecom fraud crimes in the region? Whose signatures are on the land lease contracts? The answer in every case points to KNU. They are also the ones secretly supplying and smuggling various arms and ammunition in the border areas. They are responsible for opening numerous illegal border crossings, carrying out illicit trade, and producing and selling drugs. They have allowed NUG-affiliated PDFs to live there, to engage in armed conflicts, and to carry out sabotage, while at the same time claiming to uphold human rights and appealing to the international community for support. All of these actions trace back to KNU.
The key point is that the story of KNU’s current telecom fraud crackdowns must be viewed in connection with the broader context, including the US formation of task forces to combat telecom fraud and drug trafficking. The Myanmar side has already indicated that there are deep strategic reasons behind the US’s involvement in such operations. This suggests that the US may be aiming to counter the development momentum of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and exert comprehensive pressure. There may also be an objective to interfere with Myanmar’s elections. While pressure is being applied to Myanmar and China, although Thailand is responsible for roughly 90 per cent of involvement in telecom fraud, it is visible that no pressure is being put on Thailand. Overall, each actor appears to be acting primarily in line with its own interests and strategic relationships.
Without considering the subsequent negative consequences, one is only looking out for one’s own benefit
The actions of KNU are the worst possible. Their activities hinder all the efforts of the Myanmar Tatmadaw to ensure stability and peace in the border areas, reduce violent criminal activity, enforce the rule of law, implement regional development projects, and ultimately achieve durable peace. By attacking other armed groups, the KNU is only increasing instability in the region. Conflicts will intensify, and casualties and losses will rise. There have even been reports that some foreign nationals were killed or injured during KNU’s attacks. As a result, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has had to launch operations to rescue these foreign nationals.
Later, it became apparent that KNU was planning to release the foreign nationals involved in telecom fraud only after collecting ransom payments, showing the extent of their opportunistic behaviour. The consequences of such actions would be to deepen hostility between ethnic groups and further undermine the country’s stability. No positive outcomes or benefits can be expected from this.
So why is KNU engaging in actions that bring no benefit to the wider public? For ethnic armed groups, it is not unusual to act as if they are warlords, seizing territory from one another in a predatory manner. Currently, KNU is taking advantage of the international community’s growing focus on telecom fraud crackdowns to enter and seize DKBA-controlled areas under the pretext of combatting telecom fraud. Their real objective is to expand their territory and create economic opportunities for themselves. So, the international community and local ethnic people have to understand the opportunistic schemes of the KNU.
In truth, KNU, which has never acted honourably, is now becoming increasingly recognized for its malicious behaviour. If their actions had ever been genuinely righteous, they would have already achieved success long ago. Therefore, at this point, the warning for KNU is simply to stop pretending to be virtuous and to face reality. Alongside all the telecom fraud and criminal activities they have carried out, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has firmly vowed to eliminate them. As a member of the public, the only request is this: KNU, led by foreign nationals who cannot provide any real benefit for the Kayin ethnic groups, the entire Myanmar nation, the region, and the country must be decisively wiped off and eliminated from Myanmar’s territory. Translated.
