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Explosions shatter border calm as Myanmar conflict spills over
Three blasts rocked the Moei River on a quiet afternoon, sending ethnic Karen families scrambling from the water as smoke billowed from Myanmar's side of the frontier. The detonations marked the latest flare-up in a five-year civil war now entangled with a sprawling cyber-scam industry.
Junta vows crackdown amid skepticism
Myanmar's military rulers claim they are "eradicating online scam activities at their roots," according to junta spokesman Gen. Zaw Min Tun. Yet analysts question the sincerity of the campaign, noting the junta's long history of profiting from the same criminal networks it now purports to dismantle.
For years, the military turned a blind eye as Chinese-led syndicates built a multi-billion-dollar fraud empire in Karen State, partnering with local warlords loyal to the regime. Some proceeds reportedly flowed into the generals' coffers.
KK Park raid: Symbolic strike or strategic shift?
In late October, junta forces stormed KK Park, one of Myanmar's largest scam compounds, expelling thousands of foreign workers-some trafficked, others voluntary participants in fraud schemes. Soldiers posted videos of confiscated Starlink dishes, computers, and phones before demolishing buildings with explosives.
Despite the spectacle, the operation targeted only one of dozens of scam hubs. Reports suggest many syndicates simply relocated to more remote areas, while others fled across the Moei River into Thailand. Transport costs for fleeing workers surged to $700 per vehicle, reflecting the chaos.
Karen rebels seize scam compounds, expose industry secrets
On November 21, fighters from the Karen National Union (KNU) overran two scam centers in Minletpan after clashing with the junta-aligned Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). The rebels discovered thousands of foreign workers, mostly Chinese nationals, trapped inside.
The KNU invited journalists and law enforcement to inspect the compounds, publishing documents to expose the scams' inner workings. While hundreds of workers were sent to Thailand, about 1,000 refused to leave, fearing prosecution in China. The junta responded with artillery shelling, driving most remaining workers deeper into Myanmar.
Election ploy or genuine reform?
Observers link the junta's sudden crackdown to its planned December election, a bid to bolster legitimacy amid widespread opposition. The regime has prioritized retaking territory from insurgents and polishing its image, particularly for China, its key ally.
Beijing has pressured Myanmar for years to curb scams targeting Chinese citizens, both as fraud victims and as trafficked labor. The U.S. has also formed a multi-agency task force to combat the crisis, which has drained billions from global victims through romance scams, crypto fraud, and fake investment schemes.
Scam industry adapts, shifts south
While KK Park's demolition made headlines, many buildings remain intact, some still equipped with Starlink dishes. Further south, new compounds have sprouted near border crossings like Wawlay and Payathonzu, where razor-wire-topped facilities hum with generators and armed guards.
"The scam business is still thriving," said a local monitor. "The syndicates are simply moving to less visible areas."
"We are caught between the junta's shells and the scammers' threats," said a Karen villager displaced by the fighting.
Uncertain future for border communities
As the junta's election looms, the border remains volatile. Artillery fire and fleeing workers underscore the fragility of the military's claims. Meanwhile, the KNU's brief control of Minletpan offered a rare glimpse into the scams' human toll-one that persists despite the regime's high-profile raids.
