Blogger goes to Myawaddy to shoot video: 99% of wire fraud in Myanmar is not deceived
Source: Time Weekly Author: Fu Yibo
After the article "36 Hours of Life and Death in Myowaddy" was released, it was quickly put on the hot search.
The author is the UP master "Brother Feng" (hereinafter referred to as "Brother Feng"), who prides himself on being an explorer, and the number of followers on station B and Weibo exceeds 1 million. As for why he went to the town of Myawaddy in Myanmar, he said he was puzzled and curious:
About the rumors of "Gawaist", does the local area really have such medical conditions?
As for wire fraud, the local government has explicitly banned foreigners from entering the Myawaddy area, why are people still deceived here?
Are they voluntarily or "coerced" and what exactly is life like there?
In recent years, Myanmar has increasingly shrouded itself in security concerns due to political instability and rampant telecom fraud.
The recent hot topic of discussion is "Chinese Academy of Sciences doctors were deceived to Myanmar": Mr. Zhang recently returned to China after being tricked into going to Myanmar to engage in wire fraud activities for one year during the job search process due to financial difficulties. Through the media, he told his experience and announced the amount of the "ransom": 59,000 yuan.
For a while, Myanmar once again entered the public eye.
Brother Feng at the Myawaddy Hotel Source: Brother Feng is desperate
Brother Feng took the initiative to go to Myawaddy in eastern Myanmar.
Myawaddy is a town on the border between Myanmar and Thailand, located in the eastern state of Karen State of Myanmar, and is a major land port between Myanmar and Thailand, as well as an important passage for trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. More well-known is the local large-scale "electric fraud crime gathering place" - KK Park.
At 6 a.m. local time on September 10, Feng Ge arrived at Yangon Airport and prepared to board the flight back to China. After a 36-hour "journey", he left Myanmar and compiled the experience into "36 Hours of Life and Death in Myawaddy", describing himself as "the first Chinese who voluntarily went to Myawaddy without engaging in ash production".
In response to the questions raised by netizens, he said to himself, "You can provide all kinds of photos exchanged for your life to verify everything I say." Individuals are also very eager to help the relevant authorities catch the fraudsters."
On September 15, Brother Feng carefully restored this "journey" to the Times reporter.
"Knowing that it will definitely be scolded"
Die Zeit: Can you tell us about the origin of your departure?
Brother Feng: At that time, I saw a lot of news, talking about fraud in northern Myanmar, and it also involved the content of "Gawaizi" organ transplantation. I personally think this is "anti-intellectual".
Generally speaking, organ transplantation techniques are relatively sophisticated. I have also consulted with some friends in related professions, and it is difficult for Myanmar to meet the relevant requirements for engaging in similar medical treatment. After visiting, I observed that Myanmar is similar to the third- and fourth-tier townships in the country. So, this also confirms [my] conjecture. Moreover, my habit is to hate "anti-intellectual", and "correct" should be the essence of speech.
Die Zeit: After you published your article, some netizens left messages feeling that you seem to be "whitewashing" Myanmar, what do you think?
Brother Feng: First of all, I know that I will definitely be scolded. But do it all, and don't care about the subsequent remarks. Secondly, I did not encourage people to travel to Myanmar, nor did I say that Myanmar is safe, and Myanmar is not a (safe) tourist country at the moment.
Moreover, now that northern and eastern Myanmar are completely prohibited from entering by foreigners, how can I "persuade" everyone to go?
DIE TIME: So how did you get there?
Brother Feng: Through "illegal channels".
In Yangon, three (intermediaries) were consulted, all of whom had the means to enter Myawaddy in eastern Myanmar, and the price was several thousand higher. As far as I know, most locals know this route, and they may have relatives in Myawaddy or have business related to Myawaddy.
But I can't comment that everyone who takes this route is "illegal".
The commercial car that Brother Feng took to Myawaddy Source: Brother Feng died in the world
Die Zeit: What was the process like when you set off to Myawaddy?
Brother Feng: There are more than a dozen checkpoints throughout the whole process, some of which are garrisoned by military and police, and some of which will have people who look like "villagers" standing and inspecting.
At each stop, the driver will give "road money", ranging from a few thousand kyats or 10,000 kyats, which translates to 10-30 yuan. The average income of the locals is very low, almost 500 yuan per month.
DIE TIME: As far as you know, how long has this route been in existence? Has anything changed before and now?
Brother Feng: There has always been, even after the North Myanmar Wire Fraud was known to everyone, it has always existed, but it has changed legally and illegally.
There were also buses before, and the cost was about 30 yuan. Later, on the one hand, there was a (local) scuffle, on the other hand, there were always problems with the roads, floods, torrential rains. Two reasons superimposed, the bus was canceled.
"I don't believe that 'Gawaist' will happen in Myanmar"
Die Zeit: When you arrived at the Myawaddy Hotel and the front desk refused to let you check-in, how did you feel at that time?
Brother Feng: The phrase "No room" and the expression on the front desk are very "contemptuous". Perhaps it is believed that foreigners coming here are all related to wire fraud.
I think her reaction is also normal, because she came to this place to do (wire fraud), literally speaking, "criminals", and they can't welcome you.
DIE TIME: When you enter the elephant park, what is it like?
Brother Feng: There are many office buildings, as well as supermarkets. I've been to many places in Southeast Asia, so I'm not worried. However, the high cost in the park was something I did not expect.
At a Sichuan restaurant passing by, a dish is converted into RMB 40-50 yuan, and a meal costs 100 yuan.
Myowaddy, a scene of the elephant park Source: Brother Feng's death
There are more than just box lunches in the park.
On the way back to Yangon, I met a person who made a wire fraud and told me that in the park, his monthly living expenses were about 40,000 (RMB), 20,000 (RMB) for food, and 20,000 (RMB) for accommodation. For some additional entertainment activities, the cost is also about 10,000 (RMB).
Of course, it cannot be ruled out that this is an exaggeration.
In the park, the monthly cost of food, clothing, housing and transportation has skyrocketed, several times higher than outside. There is a saying that everything in the park is subject to a "property" cut, that is, a "property fee". The property may have military investment or may be taken over by the military. That's why this "smuggling" route will always exist.
Die Zeit: Why is the cost of the wire fraud park so high?
Brother Feng: First of all, to be clear, they (wire fraud practitioners) did not come here (park) to work.
Many people confuse this concept - "they", are "criminals". We can't think of it as if we go to work normally. The company is just a shell. In essence, they are doing scams together. As for the high cost, this is not the so-called "cost of living", but the "cost of crime".
Die Zeit: You said, "In Myawaddy they deceived their countrymen of money, and after returning to China, they lied and sold miserable sympathy, deceived twice, and won twice." Why this idea?
Brother Feng: I said before that it is too easy for people to empathize with "criminals". Many people (wire fraudsters) said that they came from rural areas, could not find jobs, that life was not easy, and that their families were sick. This set of rhetoric is very confusing. In fact, life is not easy for most people.
Wire fraud practitioners are also from Tiannanhaibei. These people do not have much concept of right and wrong and the rule of law. He only feels that he wants to make a lot of money and break in.
Die Zeit: Have your questions been answered during this journey?
Brother Feng: There is no complete answer, but "Gawaizi" is definitely impossible.
As for the wire fraud, the people I met (the wire fraud practitioners in the KK campus) told me this: 99% of people are not scammed. This, frankly speaking, I can understand. It is now forbidden to go to Myawaddy, so what is it for, and how is it there?
The "wire fraud group" is a criminal organization, and Ta is a community of interests. What's more, who would voluntarily admit that they were going to commit fraud.
DIE TIME: Do you feel there is some kind of moral dilemma about Myanmar wire fraud?
Brother Feng: It's not a problem I can solve. I just record the individual and restore the phenomenon, but there are many in-depth problems that I can't solve.
"Very deterrent"
Die Zeit: At that time, why did you film the police station and some military installations?
Brother Feng: A few days ago, the (Myowaddy) police station was bombed (Note: CCTV News quoted Myanmar media as reporting that on the evening of September 3, a police station in Myowaddy City was repeatedly attacked by drones, resulting in the death of three people, including the police chief, and more than ten injuries. ), when I saw the scene, I subconsciously committed an occupational disease. Despite knowing the dangers, on the global Internet, I could hardly find any recent videos of Myawaddy, even street scenes, which is why I wanted to shoot and document them.
Die Zeit: I almost went to jail for this action, will you regret it?
Brother Feng: At this point, the psychological state is very complicated, and there may be a feeling that everything is gray. I thought that life might be frozen here, but now that I look back, it's actually more pretentious. In fact, it was filmed that the military facility was caught by the police, and that's it.
Die Zeit: At the police station, are you relieved when the interpreter tells you (the police) just asking for money?
Brother Feng: I'm very happy, it's definitely better to give money than to squat in prison. At first, I was ready to go to prison, but the translator said that they only needed money, and I felt hopeful at the moment.
Die Zeit: In the article, it was mentioned that someone in camouflage clothes told you to send you to work in the park. What did you think at the time and how did you reply?
Brother Feng: I could only understand it as a joke. Even if I believe it in my heart, I can only understand it as a joke. I put my hands together and said, Please no, and kept begging him for mercy. In short, he said that he would send me to the park, which actually gave people a strong sense of deterrence.
Die Zeit: Later, did the police ask you for money?
Brother Feng: The police don't. Later, about "money", I talked with the Karen National Union (Myanmar's ethnic minority local armed forces) at the hotel. They mean, I'm causing them a lot of trouble and have to make me pay for the service.
As for the specific amount, I will not say. No matter how much it is, it will actually mislead everyone.