Numerous Chinese Enterprises Abandon Myanmar Border Town Amid Crackdown
PUBLISHED: 13 Feb 2025 at 12:07
Chinese businesses have notably abandoned Payathonzu, a border town in Myanmar near Kanchanaburi province, following Thailand’s significant disruption of power, oil, and internet services aimed at dismantling criminal operations. Recent reports indicate that action began on February 5, impacting over 50,000 local residents.
The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which governs the region, previously ordered illicit enterprises to vacate by February 28, exacerbating the exodus.
Property owners in Payathonzu revealed that Chinese tenants had occupied their buildings for over a year, paying between 200,000 to 800,000 baht monthly, with lease agreements routinely renewed every six months.
These tenants had transformed the properties into offices and residences, utilizing robust security measures to guard against intrusions.
However, owners claimed they were unable to access the buildings where an estimated 200 to 300 Chinese nationals resided, supported by a workforce that prepared meals on-site.
In a recent turn of events, Chinese tenants dismantled communication systems, removed electrical appliances, and vacated the premises as local property owners terminated their leases.
Reports suggest that Chinese residents have relocated to an area approximately 10 kilometers away, drastically decreasing the Chinese presence in local markets.
Previously bustling with activity, Payathonzu’s markets now stand largely abandoned, with most of the over 200 businesses owned by Chinese individuals having closed down. These included restaurants and recreational centers, purportedly serving as fronts for call-center operations.
This crackdown on illicit enterprises is part of a broader operation by Thai authorities targeting call-center scams that exploit thousands of foreign individuals, many of whom are trafficking victims. Moreover, utility services have also been suspended in Myawaddy, opposite Mae Sot, and Tachileik, adjacent to Mae Sai.
In a significant development, 261 foreign nationals were released in Myawaddy and transported back to Phop Phra district in Tak. Thai authorities estimate that the number of individuals released could reach up to 10,000 in the forthcoming days and weeks, contingent on the continued closure of illegal businesses resulting from the utility service cuts.
