Rome: Mr. Rangsiman Rome, MP for the Prachachon Party and chairman of the House Committee on State Security, Thai Border Affairs, National Strategy and Reform, has urged the government to intensify its crackdown on call center gangs by holding them accountable at the level of government officials. He expressed concerns that current efforts focus only on minor operatives and do not address the main culprits, risking a loss of governmental resolve.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Rangsiman assessed the government's performance in combating call center gangs over the past month. He acknowledged that initial actions such as cutting off electricity, internet, and oil supplies had a tangible impact but were insufficient for a long-term solution. He warned that the reemergence of these gangs is likely, as evidenced by the arrest of 7,000 individuals involved in call center operations-a number he considers minor in the broader context. Mr. Rangsiman highlighted that these measures would be ineffective if gangs continue to utilize technologies such as Starlink unless the government engages with technology providers.
Mr. Rangsiman emphasized the need for additional measures. He criticized the focus on low-level operatives, urging instead for accountability among government officials suspected of accepting bribes in collusion with the gangs. He questioned the lack of progress in prosecuting key figures, such as Col. Mong Chittu, leader of the BGF. Although the Department of Special Investigation has taken steps, Mr. Rangsiman found the charges, which focus primarily on human trafficking, to be inadequate given the evidence of transnational crimes and potential drug trafficking.
Expressing his concerns, Mr. Rangsiman stated, "We have to admit that we have not yet succeeded in cracking down on the call center gangs to the roots. I am worried that the government will lose its commitment to this issue and it will become just a cover-up."
In addressing the screening process, Mr. Rangsiman acknowledged some success on the Cambodian side, which led to further arrests. However, he criticized the lack of effective screening on the Myanmar side, which resulted in reliance on other countries to manage the situation, leaving the outcome uncertain.