MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) — Thousands of sick, exhausted and terrified young men and women, from countries all over the world squat in rows, packed shoulder to shoulder, surgical masks covering their mouths and eyes.
Their nightmare was supposed to be over.
Last month, a dramatic and highly publicized operation by Thai, Chinese and Myanmar authorities led to the release of more than 7,000 people from locked compounds in Myanmar where they were forced to trick Americans and others out of their life savings. But survivors have found themselves trapped once again, this time in overcrowded facilities with no medical care, limited food and no idea when they’ll be sent home.
The headline is misleading, many of these people knew full well that they were going to work in scam centers they were just naive or ignorant about the horrendous working conditions that awaited them. They should be sent to court and then prison before they are sent home.
The fact that 300,000 people work in this industry makes it impossible for them all to be victims of subterfuge by traffickers.