The United Nations (UN) has known about illegal gambling and human trafficking schemes in Southeast Asia for some time, but is apparently going to make stopping them a more serious task. A new report by the organization looks to raise awareness of the torture and enslavement occurring through illegal gambling operations and fraudulent call centers across the region.
In SE Asia, an alarming number of individuals, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, are being subjected to exploitation and forced labor as a result of human trafficking orchestrated by criminal networks. These criminals are responsible for establishing illicit online enterprises and schemes, breaching laws and regulations and, in some cases, receiving support from those who are supposed to uphold the laws.
The UN has been aware of the problems in the region for years, and highlighted the “heinous violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms” last month. It is now reiterating the atrocities in an attempt to keep pressure on the region to make changes.
A Cancer in SE Asia
The UN, through its Office Of The High Commissioner For Human Rights, released a report on Tuesday to highlight the work of online scammers across SE Asia. It cited “credible sources” that indicated that a minimum of 120,000 individuals in Myanmar and potentially up to 100,000 in Cambodia have been affected by these illicit schemes.
Moreover, there are additional criminal operations flourishing in Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand through online gambling. Those compelled into participating in these fraudulent endeavors endure severe mistreatment as they are coerced into engaging in criminal acts.
The statement represents an exceptionally detailed exposé, encompassing a comprehensive understanding of what’s going on and how everything has unfolded. Thanks in no small part to COVID-19, the criminal elements in the region have been able to flourish.
Their expansion was made possible by the enforced shutdown of casinos during the pandemic. This subsequently allowed organized crime to dig in deeper as more people across SE Asia found themselves out of work, desperate to find a way to make a living.
The report further indicates that the scam industry is thriving and rakes in billions of dollars annually. Although a major portion of these criminals originate from SE Asian locations like China and Hong Kong, there are also criminal organizations operating in the region from Africa and Latin America.
Baby Steps
The UN has urged local governments across SE Asia to bolster legislation and actively combat corruption, thereby dismantling the prevailing culture of impunity. Some have reportedly heeded the call and are said to be taking action.
However, even in those countries where authorities have identified widespread human rights issues, some leaders still refuse to accept the truth. In a follow-up to the report by Reuters, Chhay Kim Khoeun, the official representative of the Cambodian police, scoffed at the UN report regarding the country’s situation.
Curiously, he sought clarification on the origin of the proclaimed 100,000 figure. He downplayed any possible surveys or data collection methods employed by the UN, as he believed that such numbers might be merely anecdotal statements made by foreigners.
Myanmar, currently under a “state of emergency” over who’s in charge of the country, didn’t respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Several investigations have shown that human trafficking is on the rise there, although the military leadership has previously said it wants to tackle the increase.
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