Washington Rediscovers Myanmar’s Chaotic Borderlands

Washington has rediscovered Myanmar’s chaotic borderlands—again. After cutting aid to the country earlier this year, the US now promises Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) “strike forces”  who claim to work with the Royal Thai Police in their War Room Task Force in Bangkok, investigating and combatting scam compounds in Myanmar.  Washington is even rumored to be offering a $25-million reward for the arrest of people organizing scam centers across Southeast Asia, although no Myanmar names have yet appeared on Department of State lists. But in a borderland already battered by Chinese security operations, the regime’s offensives and Thai crackdowns, the obvious question remains: What exactly does the FBI think it can accomplish in territory where the US already has over 70 years of experience attempting such crackdowns?

In short, the US, after abruptly canceling humanitarian and other aid programs to Myanmar last February, has now discovered the scam centers in places like Shwe Kokko.  More “striking” into the Myanmar scam centers is strange, I think, from a Myanmar perspective.  After all, scam centers have recently been “struck” by the Chinese government and Myanmar military artillery, and the Royal Thai Police apparently already had that War Room Task Force to address the issue. In recent weeks, there has been shelling, bombing runs, mass arrests, deportations and even a few trials and death sentences handed down by China. What will the FBI add to this, except theater designed for the Washington press corps? The Americans are doing this to satisfy domestic audiences, not to help Myanmar establish its own capacity to govern.