ASEAN has to maintain centrality amid rising global tensions, security threats: Observers

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GEOPOLITICAL Advances

In a media conference on Tuesday, Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin outlined a number of pressing issues that he will be discussing with his ASEAN counterparts in light of the dynamic political landscape. &nbsp,

These include establishing a humanitarian relief committee to deal with organic disasters brought on by climate change, improving regional security, and advancing the country’s military supply chain.

Malaysia is currently leading ASEAN this time. &nbsp,

Regarding maritime security, Mr. Khaled warned against regional militarization and urged nations with overlapping claims to solve problems diplomatically. &nbsp,

There is a need for everyone to assure freedom of navigation, adhere to international laws, and make an effort not to make this region a superpower-friendly environment, he added.

Southeast Asia faces many challenges, particularly with conflicts rising between China and the United States, said spectators.

Member states have found themselves veering off in a variety of guidelines, putting strain on efforts to come to a discussion on political issues.

Mr. Khaled made the claim earlier this month that ASEAN’s centrality, particularly in the South China Sea, is “very essential,” stressing the idea that the group should continue to play a major role in local cooperation and diplomacy.

The only way to overcome any difficulties that are confronting this area and the rest of the world is through this, he continued.

The world is in” a really remarkable period of advances” with ongoing issues, and how some relationships are breaking down while new people are coming up, said Ms Sharon Seah, representative of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s ASEAN Studies Centre.

Southeast Asia, for example, has to maintain its relationship with the US under the uncertain Trump presidency. &nbsp,

According to Ms. Seah,” I believe a very reasonable and logical assessment is required.” &nbsp,

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Anti-torture law reaches 2-year mark

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Minister features progress, problems

PUBLISHED: 25 Feb 2025 at 07: 04

Tawee: Says act provides protection
Tawee: Says work provides shelter

Tawee Sodsong, the justice minister, outlined what he called the two effective years for enforcing the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance BE 2565 ( 2023 ).

On Monday, Pol Col Tawee presided over an event at the Justice Ministry’s department on Chaeng Watthana Rd that celebrated the next anniversary of the protection of the Act.

Representatives from the UNHCR in Southeast Asia, Cynthia Veliko, and other representatives from various organizations, including those from the DSI, DSI, and PACC, were present at the event.

Pol Col Tawee emphasized that the law offers the people necessary protections against forced disappearances and torture.

While the secretary acknowledged development, he also pointed out ongoing problems. The Finance Ministry’s pause in approving some regulatory measures necessary to ensure patients ‘ compensation and rehabilitation has an unresolved issue.

The UN continues to be concerned about the slowness of the assent, which is a result of this delay.

Given that the legislation has been in effect for two years but still hasn’t fully implemented, Pol Col Tawee stressed the need for quick motion.

He even mentioned the assumption that previous laws might be enforced.

He said that despite these failures, the legislation has now led to improvements in the country’s total animal rights landscape.

The secretary also discussed the challenges that Thai citizens who have vanished worldwide face, adding that these situations frequently involve issues in cooperating with foreign governments and the limitations of international law.

He claimed that his organization continues to support the Office of the Attorney General’s efforts to bring about fairness for these people.

According to reports, there have been a total of 141 cases filed under the act, including 58 instances of rape, 45 instances of violence and inhuman treatment, 17 instances of enforced disappearance and 21 situations with two or more crimes. To date, there have been two cases before the judges.

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Families of Malaysian scam centre victims call on Thailand to do more

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CRACKDOWN ON SCAM FARMS

According to the United Nations, legal cartels have been trafficking thousands of people from all over the world to con centers along Southeast Asia, including along the Thai-Myanmar border, where patients have been forced to work in ill-legal online scam businesses. &nbsp,

As con centers have expanded swiftly throughout the region in recent years, observers have called for more work to be done to stop cyber fraud syndicates. &nbsp,
 
After the violence of Chinese professional Wang Xing, who had been lured to Thailand by a profitable acting career, in January, Thai government launched a new clampdown. &nbsp,

He later returned home after being discovered close to the Burmese border city of Myawaddy, a notorious hub for con artists. &nbsp,

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan praised the efforts of China and Thailand to free the thousands of fraud victims trapped in Myawaddy next week. &nbsp,

He stated that China has taken strong measures to combat cross-border ( crimes ), particularly job scams and illegal gambling, as best they can. &nbsp,

” Thailand was asked to cut the electricity supply ( to scam compounds )… That is why many victims were recently released” .&nbsp,

Many of the victims ‘ families are concerned and apprehensive, and they enlist in the authorities to ensure their loved ones ‘ safe return. &nbsp, &nbsp,

” I hope the ( Chinese ) army can go into the scam compound where my son is, and force them to surrender so that my son can come back”, said a victim’s father. &nbsp,

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Indonesia launches sovereign wealth fund to manage assets worth US0 billion; initial budget to kickstart 20 ‘strategic projects’

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A fresh Indonesian sovereign wealth fund will manage the property of all state-owned businesses worth more than US$ 900 billion, according to President Prabowo Subianto, who stated that the bank will spend in 20 or more high-impact regional projects this time.

Speaking at the start of the Daya Anagata Nusantara- or Danantara- bank on Monday ( Feb 24 ), Prabowo said that the first storm of investments for US$ 20 billion would be used for” proper projects” involving metal, ore, copper, food production, clean energy, artificial intelligence, oil refineries and petrochemical plants.

” These are the areas that will determine our future, our endurance and our government’s self-reliance”, said Prabowo. &nbsp,

When Prabowo took office in the late October of this year, he had set a target annual economic growth rate of 8 %. It is now at about 5 %. &nbsp,

On Monday, Prabowo stated that Indonesia is ready to work with people, including foreigners, to transform Danantara into a success story and make new jobs. &nbsp,

” Indonesia sends a clear message to all friends and partners worldwide ( that ) Indonesia is open for collaboration, open for business, open for investment, and open to shared prosperity”, he said. &nbsp,

” Danantara Indonesia will enable us to expand our global cooperation,” said Indonesian President.” I hope that all international partners will recognize Indonesia’s potential as a pillar of local stability and shared progress as well.”

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No friends, only foes in Trump’s trade war onslaught – Asia Times

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Tokyo – The chances of Donald Trump becoming more interested in business deals than business wars are rapidly waning. The US leader stated to reporters that a new trade agreement with China was “possible,” but there are still other important signs that Asia will experience. &nbsp, &nbsp,

The 10 % tariffs Trump imposed on China and the 25 % on aluminum and steel were sufficient economic drag. But the 25 % income Trump announced this week on trucks, chips and medicine, to become formalized on April 2, raises the stakes greatly for Asia’s view.

Newsrooms from Tokyo to Seoul to Bangkok are emitted with waves of stress. Managers at Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and different manufacturers are now bracing for the worst-case situation.

In Thailand, known as the” Detroit of Asia” for its car-making skills, lords and government leaders everywhere are bracing for the way Trump 2.0 might destroy auto supply stores. &nbsp,

” Expected tariffs on cars pose a particular danger to Japan and South Korea”, says Dave Chia, an analyst at Moody’s Analytics.

Yoshimasa Hayashi, the head of Japan’s top cabinet, tells Tokyo to “respond appropriately by looking into the ( tariffs ) details when they are revealed and how they impact Japan.”

Hayashi insists that Toyota and various Chinese automakers must compete in the US. ” We have already raised the issue with the US state, given the importance of the car business”, Hayashi says.

But Southeast Asia is exceedingly in harm’s way, also. Newsrooms in Bangkok are unable to tell whether the market is in a good or bad shape, according to Kringkrai Thiennukul, the president of the Federation of Thai Industries. &nbsp,

Kriengkrai says,” we may advantage if automobile companies decide to travel or increase their production facilities in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, which is a big production base,” taking the view that” we may benefit from such a situation.”

But no one really knows how large, or how far, Trump will go with restrictions on exports into the world’s biggest market. There are very few indications that Trump will leave his” Tax Man” bay at home in the first month of Trump 2.0.

True, Trump’s business limits aren’t as harsh as he has threatened. The taxes on China so far are a far cry from 60 % or even 100 %. Though smaller than feared, in some regards, Trump is going more extensive with his income.

Trump’s most recent obsession with “reciprocal” tariffs indicates that basically every economically important one is now looking over its shoulder. Which, of course, may be the place. The math might be to accumulate preemptive concessions all over the world.

But with Trump using taxes first and then asking concerns later, it’s good to know if the optimists who believe it’s just a negotiating technique have mistaken.

According to analysts at Capital Economics,” Trump’s propensity to work first and discuss later makes it still seem probable that taxes may increase prices this year and that the Federal Reserve will be on maintain as a result.”

Chia points out that Asia is currently having trouble regaining some of its economic rise from the previous five years. “Economic parameters vary extensively across the place”, he says. Several economies can match the outstanding performance of the US when comparing GDP to its pre-pandemic path.

Output in the US, Chia information, “is about where it would have been, if hardly a little higher, had pre-pandemic development continued”.

GDP in China, the Asia-Pacific state’s development anchor, is about 1.2 % of its pre-pandemic pattern, but almost in line with the world average. India, trailing carefully, is about 2 % of its original craze, but is gaining ground, Chia says.

Established Asian economies — including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong— are about 3 % behind as failure in conventional manufacturing surpasses booming it imports.

However, the ASEAN cluster of markets is struggling, with GDP more than 5 % off its pattern, mirroring Western Europe’s battle with pandemic-era consequences.

For Asia, things may get even worse. Trump stated in explaining his plans for a trade war that taxes on semiconductor chips and medicine may begin at” 25 % or higher and will go very significantly higher over the course of a time.”

Trump’s auto-tax danger definitely comes with a keep-rivals-on-their-toes active, the White House has more consciously refused to identify which countries, sectors or parts it will be targeting.

Japan Inc, though, is wasting no time in assessing the collateral damage to come. According to research firm MarkLines in Tokyo, Trump’s tariffs could cost the country’s six major automakers roughly US$ 21 billion, making it even more difficult for those outside the top three to compete globally, such as Mazda and Subaru.

In 2024, imports made up 52 % of Mazda’s sales in the US and 44 % of Subaru’s versus 17 % for Nissan.

The only positive thing that Xi Jinping’s China has to say is that Trump appears to be more interested in criticizing US allies than his geopolitical rivals. After ruining 2025 for Ottawa and Mexico City, Trump is now focused on showing Brussels who’s boss.

For instance, Trump made an appearance to support Russian President Vladimir Putin in the election, even calling Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator.”

” Despite Zelensky’s and European leaders ‘ best efforts to get on Trump’s good side, the US is no longer a reliable or a good-faith partner”, says Ian Bremmer, CEO at Eurasia Group.

If Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference debating European democracy had not made that clear enough, Bremmer writes that” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s attempt to shake down Zelensky for 50 % of Ukraine’s present and future mineral wealth revenues — not in exchange for future US support but as payment for past military aid disbursed under the Biden administration — should have.”

Bremmer points out that these terms account for a larger portion of the GDP of Ukraine than the reparations imposed on Germany by the Versailles Treaty of 1919.

Especially troubling, Bremmer says, is Trump’s effort to force a wartime election on Ukraine. Bremmer claims that doing this” to further the imperialist agenda” of Putin’s regime “is a stain on the United States and its role in the world” rather than” to advance American interests.”

All of this places the EU’s leaders in Berlin, Paris, and other locations in a very difficult position. Add in Trump’s vague tariff threats.

So far this year, Trump’s widening tariff blasts haven’t stopped European stock markets from rising.

” Markets are pricing in a deterioration in US-EU relations, a risk premium tied to Sunday’s German elections, and the potential for higher insurance costs as European nations seek to finance a sharp increase in defense spending”, says researcher Michael Brown at broker Pepperstone.

Analysts at Goldman Sach write that, if enacted, reciprocal tariffs front-run Trump’s most severe trade-war tools. The only positive aspect may be that, according to Goldman analysts, “it is also possible that a reciprocal tariff policy could incrementally reduce trade policy uncertainty once it is announced.”

Even before Trump’s tariffs, many of Europe’s biggest carmakers were facing intensifying headwinds, says Michael&nbsp, Dunne, CEO of auto industry advisory ZoZoGo.

” Privately, European automakers tell me they sense real danger – existential danger”.

Last year, Dunne says, Volkswagen delivered 1 million fewer cars in Europe than it did in 2019. ” Sales in China are collapsing”, he says. VW is shutting down its factories in Germany for the first time in recent memory.

Japan is also anticipating the worst. With each passing tariff threat, hopes that Shigeru Ishiba, the country’s prime minister, will “break” with Trump are thwarted.

Initial expectations were placed on Ishiba pulling off the kind of bond Shinzo Abe and Trump 1.0 created. Though it didn’t earn Japan many deliverables, Tokyo believes Abe shielded Japan from the trade war.

Japan is becoming aware that even the most unlikely scenario could have a devastating impact on the economy. In December, before he took office, Trump talked often about how he had contacts with Chinese leader Xi. ” We’ve had communication”, Trump said. He continued,” I had an agreement with President Xi, who I got along with very well.”

The deal concerned illegal drugs like fentanyl that might be coming from China. Ishiba worries that Trump’s true second-term objective is a “grand bargain” trade agreement with China, leaving Japan with no one else to watch from. So do executives at Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

According to Cody Acree, an analyst at Benchmark Co, the tariffs Trump has proposed would increase the average cost of cars and components from Mexico and Canada by$ 5,790.

Given its sheer volume of trade dollars, the complexity of the intertwined supply and manufacturing channel that has been developed over decades, and the sheer number of our companies that participate in support of this key consumer industry, Acree says,” we believe the auto sector is the most exposed to the risks of increased tariffs.”

Japan values the auto industry even more highly. Tokyo has no choice but to batten down the economic hatches and exploit the worst-case scenarios as Trump expands his tariffs plans to an industry crucial to Japan while keeping deflation in the rearview mirror.

Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek

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Arakan Army’s triumph ripples through China, India, Bangladesh – Asia Times

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Just 15 years after its founding, the Arakan Army ( AA ) has risen to dominate Rakhine state in western Myanmar, controlling 15 of 17 key townships and over 90 % of the territory, including the entire 271-kilometer border with Bangladesh.

These military developments include the historical record of Ann township’s Western Regional Command office, cementing the AA’s military and administrative supremacy.

The AA’s leadership of key Rakhine state functions, from the judiciary to the public health, underpins its desire for greater autonomy under confederate status, through its Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government ( APRG ).

With Rakhine’s corporate site, natural resources and closeness to China-backed system, the AA’s increase reshapes the country’s political and security dynamics, presenting both opportunities and challenges for dialogue and stability.

The AA has established itself as the de facto governing body in much of Rakhine State in a amazing display of endurance and plan. The APRG has assumed roles formerly held by the central power, including leadership, court, and public providers, underscoring the AA’s charge for legitimacy.

Tensions between the Myanmar military and the AA have gotten worse as a result of their fast territorial expansion. The military coup has used divisions within Myanmar to exploit groups by recruiting members of Rohingya military organizations like the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization, trying to keep its grip on power.

These actions have exacerbated racial tensions between the Rohingya Muslim minority and the Rohingya Buddhist majority, causing suspicion to worsen and putting a stop to violent cycles.

While the AA has articulated a vision for equality, especially through the APRG’s operational framework, building confidence with disadvantaged communities—including the Rohingya—remains challenging.

The AA’s ability to foster dialogue and exhibit diverse leadership will determine its ability to achieve long-term stability in Rakhine.

China’s Myanmar footprints

Myanmar state is a focal point of China’s Belt and Road Initiative because of its abundance of natural resources and strategic location along the Bay of Bengal.

Important infrastructure projects, such as the Kyaukphyu deep-sea dock and the Shwe oil pipeline, represent Beijing’s economic ambitions and political priorities in the region.

These initiatives not only protected important energy pathways for China, but they also improve its access to the Indian Ocean, giving Myanmar a crucial network in its wider geographical plan.

In light of the ongoing legal fight, Chinese investments in Myanmar are becoming more resilient. Since the start of” Operation 1027“, anti-junta forces have taken control of 23 out of 34 Chinese-funded projects, with vital areas affected including Rakhine, northern Shan state, and the northern plains.

But the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the National Unity Government’s People’s Defense Forces ( PDFs ) have refrained from directly targeting Chinese initiatives.

However, studies suggest that the junta-backed Pyusawhti military allegedly attacked the Taiwanese Consulate in Mandalay in October 2024. This is only the next occurrence in China-Myanmar diplomatic ties ‘ seven decades.

To prevent these investments, China has partnered with Myanmar’s coup to establish a cooperative security firm. The junta is reviewing the logistical ramifications of a draft memorandum of understanding for the joint venture, including importing security and weapons, to make sure the strategy does not violate Myanmar’s sovereignty.

The proposal indicates Beijing’s lack of confidence in the junta’s ability to maintain control and security. The presence of foreign security forces could lead to resistance from local armed organizations, including the AA, who has already a significant influence in the area, which could be exacerbated by this action.

While Chinese investments are vital to Myanmar’s economy, overt alignment with the military junta risks alienating other stakeholders, including ethnic armed groups. Beijing needs to stay in Rakhine while avoiding furthering existing conflicts, so it will be crucial to keep these tensions at bay.

Labyrinthine conflict dynamic

Deep-rooted mistrust and historical rifts characterize the relationship between the Arakan Army and the Rohingya groups. Ethno-nationalism has often marginalized the Rohingya, while human rights violations by the AA have further strained relations.

These tensions present a significant barrier to achieving lasting peace in Rakhine. However, opportunities for reconciliation exist. A potential shift in its approach is reflected in the AA’s recent statements advocating for an open and inclusive Rakhine and political dialogue.

Building trust will require concrete actions, such as addressing human rights allegations, ensuring the Rohingya have fair representation in government positions, and encouraging mutual respect.

In Cox’s Bazar, refugee camps have become recruitment grounds for armed groups, further complicating the conflict landscape. Taus of Rohingya have been drafted into the military junta as a result of reports of forced recruitment and citizenship promises.

These dynamics underscore the need for coordinated interventions to combat armed group abuse and promote peace and security. While the AA has indicated a willingness to include the Rohingya in its vision of an autonomous Rakhine, serious action will be required to move beyond rhetoric.

Greater integration of Rohingya communities into government structures and a focus on equitable development could lay the groundwork for trust and coexistence. International actors are crucial in bridging this gap. Facilitated discussions between the AA, Rohingya leaders, and other parties might provide a framework for cooperation.

These efforts must be supported by transparency and accountability to ensure they produce meaningful outcomes. A unified governance system that includes diverse viewpoints could provide the foundation for Rakhine’s long-term stability.

Enter India and Bangladesh

As Rakhine’s immediate neighbors, India and Bangladesh have a critical role to play in shaping the region’s future. India’s strategic initiatives, such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, aim to enhance connectivity between its northeastern states and Southeast Asia.

However, the AA’s territorial control poses both challenges and opportunities for New Delhi. Having direct ties to the AA might help India secure its infrastructure projects and promote regional trade.

Pragmatic cooperation would increase India’s influence in Rakhine as well as safeguard its investments. Additionally, India’s engagement could serve as a counterbalance to China’s growing presence in the region.

For Bangladesh, the ongoing Rohingya crisis remains a pressing concern. Over a million refugees have been displaced, which has increased domestic tensions and stretched Dhaka’s resources.

Bangladesh could explore new avenues for cooperation, such as establishing humanitarian corridors and addressing cross-border security issues, by adopting a more flexible approach to the AA. The AA’s dialogue could also help to facilitate the voluntary and honorable repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

Both Bangladesh and India should acknowledge that the AA is de facto a major player in Rakhine and work with it as a key player. Such a strategy could promote regional interests that are mutually beneficial.

What can be done?

The path to sustainable peace and stability in Rakhine requires a multifaceted strategy that prioritizes governance, regional collaboration, and humanitarian relief. Key steps include:

    Promoting inclusive governance: The AA needs to move beyond its military accomplishments to demonstrate its capacity for inclusive leadership. This includes protecting the rights of all communities, particularly the Rohingya, and creating equitable governance structures that reflect Rakhine’s diversity.

  1. Promoting constructive dialogue: Building trust and addressing historical grievances requires international support for dialogue between the AA, Rohingya groups, and other stakeholders. These initiatives should be transparent and have mechanisms in place to control progress and accountability.
  2. Leveraging strategic investments: China, India and other stakeholders must ensure their projects contribute to the socioeconomic development of Rakhine’s communities. Investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure can foster goodwill and mitigate the underlying drivers of conflict.
  3. Enhancing humanitarian assistance: Regional actors, including Bangladesh and India, should facilitate cross-border aid to address the acute needs of displaced populations. Coordinated efforts with international organizations can restore people’s lives and end suffering.

Rakhine’s challenges are immense but not insurmountable. Through inclusive governance, strategic cooperation and sustained international support, the region can transition from conflict to stability.

Rakhine has the potential to serve as a model of resilience and progress in a troubled environment by addressing historical grievances and encouraging collaboration.

Aung Thura Ko Ko ( aung@pacforum .org ) &nbsp, is a research fellow at the Pacific Forum and holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford. With the author’s kind permission, this article first appeared on Pacific Forum.

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Myanmar scam centre survivors recall torture and coercion

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People from a number of nations are awaiting assistance from embassy personnel in Tak defense camps.

PUBLISHED: 19 Feb 2025 at 21: 37

A Pakistani citizen who was trafficked into working at a scam centre in Myanmar watches a video of torture that was recorded inside a scam centre, at a shelter inside the 310th Military District (Fort Wachiraprakan) in Tak province of Thailand on Feb 19. (Photo: Reuters)
A Pakistani national who was tricked into working for a scam center in Myanmar watches a video of torture inside a shelter in the 310th Military District ( Fort Wachiraprakan ) of Thailand’s Tak province on February 19. ( Photo: Reuters )

Four African people inside a Thai military camp on Wednesday displayed the wounds and scars on their body, which they claimed were the result of abuse in one of Myanmar’s most notorious scam materials.

” I got a lot of consequences”, said 19-year-old Yotor, who gave just one name and had reduces along his foot. ” Every day, I get electronic upsets.”

As a global assault on fraud centers along the border between the two nations progresses, Yotor and his countrymen are among the 260 people who were sent from Myanmar to Thailand last week, the majority of whom were victims of human trafficking.

Criminal groups have been trafficking hundreds of thousands of people into shady locations across Southeast Asia for centuries, including along the Thai-Myanmar border, where patients have been forced to work in illegitimate online businesses, according to the UN.

However, last month, Thai government launched their first major crackdown following the violence of Chinese artist Wang Xing, who had been lured to Thailand by the promise of a profitable acting position.

Wang after found near the Myanmar city of Myawaddy, where he afterward went back to his home. However, the Thai government took notice of the resultant attention in China, which frightened Thai travelers.

Thailand this month cut power, energy and online products to three borders areas, a technique that China has asked it to continue. A senior security standard has been sent to Thailand to handle the relocation of both criminals and victims.

Yotor, who was taken to Myanmar after being saved from the Myawaddy region and is now residing in a military station, claimed to have been drawn to Thailand for work. ” They lied”, he said.

Around 7, 000 individuals who were saved from fraudulent buildings in Myanmar are awaiting transfer to Thailand, according to Myanmar’s prime minister on Wednesday.

Around 600 Foreign citizens will be flown home on three flights from the airport at Mae Sot once they cross the border, according to Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, starting on Thursday.

Some of the people who were rescued from the con artists claimed they were forced to work almost 20 hours a day to mislead people using WhatsApp and other instant messaging services.

” When a customer says ‘ I love you’, therefore we start washing his mind how to get money”, said Faysal, 21, from Bangladesh.

But when con staff were unable to meet target, he said, they were beaten.

” We are never cybercriminals”, said Faysal. ” We are subjects”.

As they wait for their embassies to pick them up at the 310th Military District ( Fort Wachiraprakan ) in Tak province on February 19, victims of scam centers who were trafficked into working in Myanmar and returned to Thailand on February 12 amid a growing crackdown on the lawless border region queue for food. ( Photo: Reuters ) &nbsp,

As they wait for their embassies to pick them up at the 310th Military District ( Fort Wachiraprakan ) in Tak province on February 19, victims of scam centers who were trafficked into working in Myanmar and returned to Thailand on February 12 amid a growing crackdown on the lawless border region queue for food. ( Photo: Reuters ) &nbsp,

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