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Trapped in Cyber Scams in Mainland Southeast Asia
17 May, 2023 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
On 17 May 2023 at 5.30-7.00 pm, SEA Junction is highlighting a growing human trafficking crisis in Mainland Southeast Asia. Since 2020, across the Mekong region, particularly in Cambodia, Laos and ever more in conflict-torn Myanmar, industrial-scale online scam mills and online illegal casinos have been expanding, luring low-wage workers from across the region. Malaysian, Indonesian, Philippine, Vietnamese, and Thai nationals, but also people from South Asia, East Asia and Africa have been trafficked and forced to work and commit online scams inside large compounds against their will at the risk of abuses, tortures, and being killed.
Due to its geo-political position, Thailand is increasingly serving as a major hub in the trafficking route as well as for rescue operations. Recently the Indonesian Embassy communicated how a group of 20 victims was rescued from Myanmar to Thailand and now waiting for repatriation to Indonesia. To better understand the scope of this transnational crime and its regional implications, the panel discussion organized by SEA Junction and moderated by Rosalia Sciortino on 17 May will feature the following speakers:
- Kristina Amerhauser, Program Manager · Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)
- Caleb Quinley, Multimedia Journalist and Editor
- Among Pundhi Resi, Program Officer (Protection and Counter Trafficking) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Thailand.
- Sokchar Mom (online), Executive Director of Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW),
Speakers’ Bios
Kristina Amerhause
Kristina is a Programme Manager at the GI-TOC and is currently conducting research and analysis with the Asia-Pacific Observatory. She is based in Bangkok. Previously she worked with the GI-TOC’s Observatory of Illicit Economies in South Eastern Europe where she focused on topics such illicit financial flows, money laundering and how to strengthen civil society resilience against organized crime and corruption in the region. Kristina holds a master’s degree in advanced international studies from the Vienna School of International Studies, a BSc in international business from the Vienna University of Business and Economics and a BA in development studies from the University of Vienna.
Caleb Quinley
Caleb is a multimedia journalist and editor based in Thailand covering autocracy, dissident culture, and human rights in Southeast Asia. He was raised in rural and urban Thailand and is interested in regional affairs and politics, especially the rise of authoritarianism. His work has been featured in renowned publications including, National Geographic, The Guardian, Al Jeezera, The Independent, VICE News, and others. Twitter: @calebquinley
Among Pundhi Resi
Among is the Program Officer (Protection and Counter Trafficking) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Thailand. She has more than ten years of experience in Migrant Protection and Counter Trafficking. Prior for her position in IOM Thailand, she was the head of the Counter-Trafficking and Labor Migration Unit of IOM Indonesia. Previous to her works at IOM, she works with several international organizations such as ILO, Care International, and civil society organizations in Indonesia, among others are LBH APIK and Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia. She holds a master’s degree in Maritime Security from the Coventry University, United Kingdom.
Sokchar Mom
Sokchar is the Executive Director of Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia. LSCW, initially set up to build the capacity of lawyers and organizational staff in legal aid provision, has become one of the foremost providers of free legal advice to women and children victims of crime and victims of human trafficking in Cambodia. He graduated from Law School in Phnom Penh and has a Master in Corporate Law.
Relevant links:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62792875
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjvpx5/thai-rescue-trafficking-cambodia
https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7zb5d/pig-butchering-scam-cambodia-trafficking
https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/sihanoukville-hub/
https://www.reuters.com/article/southeast-asia-tech-trafficking-idUKL8N31M1UZ
For more information, please email: info@seajunction.org or phone/wa: +66970024140
NB: Events are free, but donation most welcome!
Organizers:
SEA Junction
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 407-8 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information, see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @seajunction
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)
The GI-TOC is a non-for-profit organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It was established in 2013 with the specific aim of building a network to counter criminal networks and has since developed a successful, inter-disciplinary, cross-societal and agile approach to understanding illicit markets as ecosystems; taking account of their drivers, the economic dynamics, the political economy and, crucially, the impact on communities. Since 2020, the GI-TOC has been building up its Asia-Pacific program and in 2022 opened an office in Bangkok, Thailand.
