CNI News
22 January 2025
As the problem of Zha Pian ( online fraud) from the border region, which was being talked about in neighboring countries as a hot topic was larger and deeper than everyone thinks, it was not easy for a country alone to tackle it, chairman of the PNLO-NCA/S, an NCA signatory, Col. Khun Okkar told CNI News.
After a Chinese film actor was trafficked, the Zha Pian issue has been increasingly talked about not only among neighboring countries but also among international community.
" Zha Pian problem is larger and deeper than we think. Things involved in the problem are more complicated than expected. So, it's not easy for an organization or a country alone to resolve the problem. It can be resolved only if countries concerned solve." said Col. Khun Okkar to CNI News.
A joint declaration by the ASEAN in which the members of the ASEAN would cooperatively suppress the Zha Pian issue was released after the meeting of ASEAN digital ministers was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 16th and 17th January. General Mya Tun Oo, the SAC Minister for Transportation and Telecommunication, attended the meeting as well.
Due to the increase in online fraud in ASEAN countries, more cooperation would be conducted, said in the statement.
The Chinese government was making every effort to crack down on the Zha Pian gangs, reported Xinhua News Agency after a Chinese film actor was released from being trafficked to ask him in the Zha Pian business based in Myawaddy, Karen State.
While Zha Pian criminals were being handed over to China
Although the Zha Pian, an illegal business, was being operated internationally before, because famous people such as a Chinese film actor and a model were trafficked and released, it was internationally known, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar-China affairs commentator, told CNI News.
" People come to know the Zha Pian more because famous actor and actress were trafficked. It's not easy to resolve it even in China. So, Chinese FM talked about the Zha Pian at the meeting of the ASEAN and China. China alone can't easily resolve it. So, China has to request Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar to tackle the problem. Online fraudsters who were arrested were handed over to China on a plane full of them by Cambodia not very long ago." said Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw.
An online fraudster who pretended to be an ASEAN leader used the AI technology and phoned Thai PM Paetongtarn.
Over 6,000 people from 21 countries including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Kanya were believed to be trafficked on the Myanmar side near the Thai border, reported Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese News Agency on 15th January.
Most of them were trafficked from Thailand to Myanmar and forced them to work in the criminal activities, stated in the news.
Moreover, Thai authorities reportedly has tightened the border security to prevent human trafficking by online fraudsters in Myawaddy.
