Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra addresses the media after the Cabinet meeting on February 4, 2025, that the government has now decided to cut power to what is believed to be scam center locations in Myanmar.
Aside from electricity, internet and fuel supplies in five locations along the Thai-Myanmar border will be cut off, in a move to combat call center scams that have tarnished the image of the Kingdom.
In a Khaosod English report, the decision, which was announced by Phumtham Wechayachai, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, comes after investigations that such illegal activities have victimized over 557,500 individuals and have caused losses exceeding 68 billion baht (2 billion USD).
“I have no hesitation. We must take care of our people first… The impact on Thai people and our country’s image has been enormous. It’s time to take decisive action,” says the Thai PM.
The five target locations, which are along the Thai-Myanmar border, include major crossing points at Three Pagodas Pass, Mae Sai-Tachileik, and Mae Sot-Myawaddy.
The report continues that this move stemmed from high-level discussions between Thai and China officials, China’s Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zongyi, emphasizing the international scope of the problem. China says that it has also suffered significant losses from these illegal operations and has pledged to cooperate through intel sharing.
Healthcare facilities have been tapped by the Thai authorities to facilitate affected areas ahead of the shutdown. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will now notify the Myanmar government of the action, which affects several Myanmar-licensed companies operating under contracts given by the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand.
Both the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand have expressed confidence in the decision, when asked by the media about a possible retaliation from Myanmar. They said that due to the scope and magnitude of the issue, Myanmar authorities understand the issue, which was also discussed with them.
The shutdown will be affecting 51 border districts.