MYANMAR – The European Union announced sanctions against Chit Lin Myaing Company and its founder Colonel Saw Chit Thu, Lieutenant Colonel Mottone and Major Tin Win of the junta subordinate Border Guard Force (BGF) who are heavily involved in online financial scams, drugs and human trafficking, cross border crimes and human rights violations in Myawaddy Township, Karen State.
EU declared sanctions against the three BGF senior officials and a company with links to the terrorist junta council on October 29, stating that the sanctioned individuals have committed scams and crimes targeting the people of Myanmar and other nationals in the region.
Chit Lin Myaing Group (CLM) and its founder and chairman Colonel Saw Chit Thu from BGF, sanctioned by the EU, reportedly made huge profits from the online scam rings based in Myawaddy Township at the Thai-Myanmar border including Shwekokko. Moreover, the territory under Colonel Saw Chit Thu is said to be a major hub for online scams and cross border crimes including drugs and human trafficking, and is rife with heavy human rights violations including torture and forced labor. In addition, Chit Lin Myaing company also has close relations with the terrorist junta council and is involved in reporting anti-junta personnel and forced conscription.
Two other individuals, Lieutenant Colonel Mottone and Major Tin Win, were also sanctioned by the EU alongside Colonel Saw Chit Thu. The two are similarly working for online scam centres such as Shwekokko, K K Park Project and Huanya Project and are gaining benefits from online scams.
EU declared these sanctions to show its determination to tackle the human rights violations in Myanmar and the threats of online scams that are threatening the regional and local peace, security and stability.
Currently, EU has sanctioned a total of 106 individuals and 22 organisations from Myanmar and has banned them from travelling to the EU. The EU also stated that it is deeply concerned about the increasing violence in Myanmar, the effects on the region and the evolution into long-term conflicts, and condemned the terrible human rights violations of the junta council.
