Interviews with foreigners detained by Myanmar for their illegal entry

 

Mr Pon Wan Pin (Chinese citizen)

One of my friends, Mr Zeng Hai Ming, a Chinese citizen who works at Shwe Kokko in Myawady, contacted me about a job in Bangkok, Thailand, with a salary of 8,000 yuan. As a result, I flew from Guangdong Airport in China to Bangkok Airport in Thailand on 26 March 2024. When we arrived at the airport, a Thai man picked me up in a car, and we left Bangkok for Mae Sot. The drive took eight hours. After crossing the Thaungyin River, my friend Mr Zeng Hai Ming met me and drove me to our destination. On 27 March 2024, we arrived at Ti Can Company, owned by a Chinese man named Shi Sam, in Mae Thaothalay. I worked at that company for about three months. After that, I was sent to Zho Ye Company, owned by a Chinese man named Di Jen, in KK Park, where I worked for about four months. In December 2024, I arrived in Shwe Kokko and was assigned to Chiang Ying Company, owned by a Chinese man named Long Liu. There, I was tasked with searching for customers online using a computer from 9 pm to 5 pm the next day. I performed this work but did not receive any salary.

Mrs Xiao Shuang (Chinese citizen)

I applied for a job after seeing a job advertisement online. I learned that the position was at a beauty salon and that the salary was 15,000 yuan per month. With the company’s connection, my husband Mr Xiao Xihe and I flew from China to Bangkok, Thailand, in September 2024. When we arrived at Bangkok Airport, a Chinese man named Awei met us and drove us to Mae Sot. During the journey, we passed through four checkpoints in Thailand, but no questions were asked. It took us about seven hours by car to reach the bank of the Thaungyin River. From there, we took a boat across the Thaungyin River, and when we reached the other side, a Chinese man picked us up in a car and took us to Shwe Kokko. There, I worked at a beauty salon for about five months and earned about 15,000 baht. The shop where I worked was next to the one where my husband worked.

Mr Yu Yong Bing (Chinese citizen)

One of my friends, a Chinese citizen, contacted me online about a job in Yunnan. He said he had a position available in Bangkok, so on 12 September 2024, I left Yunnan for Bangkok. When I arrived in Bangkok, a Chinese man sent me the car number that would pick me up via Viber. I took that car and arrived in Mae Sot in the evening. From Mae Sot, I went to work at Hing Tu Company in Shwe Kokko, where my job was to find customers online.

Mrs Hou Mei Xin (Chinese citizen)

On 28 February 2024, I flew from China to Bangkok, Thailand, to work in Shwe Kokko. When I arrived in Bangkok, a Chinese man picked me up. From Bangkok, I crossed the Thaungyin River by boat with four Chinese men to Shwe Kokko. I started working at Heng Chuang, a Chinese-owned company, where I was required to chat and find customers for an unlimited amount of time every day, starting at 8 pm. I have not received a salary since I started working there.

 

Mr Yuan Zong Liang (Chinese citizen)

My friend from Guangdong, Xu Feng, offered me a job at a restaurant in Mae Sot, Thailand, with a salary of 7,000 baht per month. With his help, I flew from Guangdong Airport to Bangkok on 15 July 2024. When I arrived in Bangkok that afternoon, a Thai man he had arranged came to pick me up in a car. At 7 pm, I reached a creek and crossed to the other side by boat. When I reached the other side, a man met me and took me to the Rahtike Company in Shwe Kokko. At the company, I worked online to find targeted Facebook accounts to scam. I worked every day from 10 pm until 2 pm the next day and only earned 4,000 baht a month.

News Team/TH

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