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A Thai anti-trafficking organization, Exodus Road, has sought the help of Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to free 21 Moroccan nationals abducted by a human trafficking network operating on the Thai-Myanmar border, Thai media reported on Sunday.
The organization decided to seek the Prime Minister's help after the Moroccan Embassy in Bangkok requested assistance from various agencies on May 17th in an official letter. These agencies included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Army, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok. According to Exodus Road, no progress has been recorded since then.
The victims were initially lured with promises of high-paying e-commerce jobs in Thailand but were instead taken to rebel-controlled areas in Myanmar to work in cybercrime call centers. Shortly after arriving in Thailand in February, the Moroccans were transported to a village in Myanmar's Myawaddy district, where they were held captive and tortured, the group said.
In addition to requesting the Thai Prime Minister's intervention, Exodus Road sent a letter to Thai MP Kannavee Suebsang of the Fair Party. Suebsang has a history of assisting with the evacuation of refugees besieged by rebel forces.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the Thai MP stated that the human trafficking group is also holding 41 Sri Lankans hostage in Myanmar, in addition to the Moroccan citizens. He urged the Thai government to assign a rescue mission with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to evacuate the victims.
In June, three Moroccans were already returned home after being released by the human trafficking network in Myanmar, likely in exchange for ransom. The families of the three victims paid the equivalent of 100,000 Dhs each to secure their freedom.
On May 15th, Morocco's ambassador to Thailand, Abdelrahim Rahali, informed MAP that the Moroccan embassy is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the kidnapped Moroccan citizens and prevent any reprisals. Rahali emphasized that the embassy in Bangkok is closely monitoring the situation and intensifying efforts to assist the victims.
The Moroccan embassy maintains daily contact with Thai authorities to track the situation and gather information related to the Moroccan nationals. The victims are among several thousand people from various nationalities, including African, Asian, and European countries. Some victims have managed to escape from the camp, which has been described as a place of exploitation and open-air torture, where Chinese mafia militias operate with impunity.
