Square one: Trafficking victims rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar sitting inside a camp belonging to the DKBA in Kyaukhat, after their escape attempt. — AP
They walked out of the compound in Myanmar not knowing where they would go. Though they were aiming for the river that separated them from Thailand and freedom, they didn’t know if they would make it across.
A group of more than 270 some men and women, who were rescued from forced labour in scam compounds two months ago but remain in detention in Myanmar, attempted a mass escape Sunday out of fear that they may end up being sent back to prison-like compounds where they face beatings, torture and potentially even death.
“We will kill ourselves instead of going back to them,” said one woman, who has been waiting to go home to Ethiopia for more than two months.
She came to Myanmar for what she thought was a job in customer service more than a year ago, only to realise she had been trafficked. She was forced to work in online scams targeting people across the world.
Multiple members of the group described the escape attempt by telephone. All asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution from the armed groups holding them.
Non-profit organisations based at the border have been fundraising to help get these men and women home, but as the wait dragged on their embassies told some of them that they were not on Myanmar’s official list of people waiting for repatriation.
In recent weeks, people from the group said, they saw visitors who appeared to be from the compounds come to talk to the DKBA militia soldiers.
After one of these meetings, the DKBA soldiers came to the detained people and offered them a chance to go back to the compounds. They told them: “Whoever wants to go back to work, can go back easily,” said one man. “There will not be punishment. There will be (a) salary.”
The men and women grew scared, and on Sunday, they took things into their own hands. They all packed up their suitcases and decided to head for the compound’s exit. “We are tired and we want to go,” said one man. “There’s no proper food. We are sleeping on the floor.”
They walked out slowly in a loose group, pulling all their personal belongings with them.
Although they made it out the compound, they were met by soldiers with guns on the street, according to three people who tried to leave and videos of the confrontation. Eventually, one of the soldiers said they were open to discussion, and the group agreed to turn back.
Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said Monday it was aware of the escape attempt and the men and women’s names were being added to the official repatriation list.
Amy Miller, South-East Asia director at Acts of Mercy International, said her group, alongside an airline and partner groups, had raised enough money for the 270-plus group to go home.
For now, the men and women are waiting. “It’s really, really hard to trust,” said one man. “You’re not 100% sure it will happen.” — AP
