At least five civilians, including one Chinese national, were reportedly killed when gunfire broke out during a raid on an alleged scam compound in Myanmar’s Myawaddy Township last weekend, according to sources familiar with the incident.
Multiple sources told Myanmar Now that the shootout began after Karen National Union (KNU) troops came under fire during the raid on the compound in Minletpan, a village held by the rival Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), on November 23.
A number of civilians were caught in the crossfire, leaving at least five dead, the sources said. It is the first known instance of suspected scam-centre workers dying in a frontline clash along the Thai-Myanmar border.
“Four Burmese men were killed, along with one Chinese national,” a DKBA source with knowledge of the incident said, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was unclear if the civilians who were killed were trafficking victims or working for the Chinese crime groups believed to be operating the scam centre.
“When the raid began, there was shooting in all directions, and people inside panicked and tried to run,” the source said. “Some got caught in the crossfire.”
In a statement, the KNU said its forces discovered the compound holding thousands of people after fighting broke out near Minletpan on November 21. When they carried out a raid two days later, they found that some of the workers inside were armed, the statement claimed.
A source affiliated with the KNU, who also spoke anonymously, told Myanmar Now that the number of people killed could be as high as 10. He also confirmed that at least one of the dead was a Chinese national.
The source also said that there were many weapons inside the compound, as they were being illegally bought and sold there.
“There were more than 100 guns for sale—it’s a business there now. Civilians are buying them, too. You can buy [a weapon] for 50,000 baht [$1,500] and sell it for 70,000 baht.”
KNU spokesperson Saw Taw Nee claimed on Wednesday that fighting had broken out among foreign nationals in the compound, resulting in the death of a Chinese national and two others being injured.
Myanmar Now attempted to reach Saw Taw Nee for further comment on Thursday, but did not receive a response.
There were also reports that some of the workers were shot when they attempted to protest against the gang holding them captive. However, this information could not be independently verified.
According to the anonymous KNU source, Chinese authorities have begun investigating the incident.
