EXCLUSIVE: Sri Lankans Held Captive in Myanmar, Facing Forced Relocation

COLOMBO (News 1st); Reports indicate that Chinese underworld groups are preparing to transport Sri Lankan youth who are currently being forcibly held in Myanmar, to another country.

These vulnerable individuals are held against their will to commit cyber crimes.

In an exclusive comment to News 1st, several members from a youth group have confirmed that preparations are underway for the relocation process.

They said that the group will be moved out of the notorious Myawaddi region, in groups.

News First has been reporting for several months about over 50 Sri Lankan youths being detained by an armed group in a remote area near the Myanmar-Thailand border.

These individuals were lured to Myanmar with promises of IT-related jobs but were instead forced into committing cybercrimes.

The detainees, held in three locations in Myanmar's Myawaddy region, have been subjected to various forms of torture to compel their involvement in these criminal activities.

During our extensive investigations and reporting, eight Sri Lankan youths held near Myawaddy were rescued, but approximately 50 others remain forcibly detained in two different locations.

Around 20 Sri Lankan youths are held captive about 5 kilometers from Myawaddy, while the remaining 28 are detained 26 kilometers away.

"Recently, we heard from multiple sources that due to information coming from Sri Lanka, it is no longer possible for them to have us in this area. As a result, the captors are considering relocating us in groups. They have already moved many Chinese and Myanmar nationals in groups. We have been told we might be taken to places like Cambodia or Thailand, which are said to be even more dangerous. If this happens, we are unsure of our fate, but we know we might be moved by the end of this month," said one Sri Lankan detained over there.

The detainees reported that due to increased awareness in European countries and Australia about cybercrimes, it has become harder for them to find new victims.

As a result, the captors have increased punishments for the Sri Lankans who fail to meet daily targets.

"Starting tomorrow, we face new punishments. If we fail to extort money from new clients, we will be forced to do 500 squats. If not done properly, they have a large whip with a wire cable attached to beat us. Anyone showing signs of illness will be taken to a special room where they will be electrocuted using a taser. They told us to open new accounts, and besides Sri Lankans, there are two Kenyans here as well. Only foreigners receive these punishments; the Chinese detainees get less punishments. We have to do overtime both before and after our shifts, and starting tomorrow, we will be subjected to these punishments if we fail. Girls and boys must perform the 500 squats as punishment. I do not think anyone can do that. Yet, they beat us. We are not sure of what they will do to us in the future," said another Sri Lankan Youth Detained in Myanmar.

Another Sri Lankan Youth Detained in Myanmar speaking to News 1st said that the captors have repeatedly told that the youth have an agreement requiring them to pay $5,000 to be released.

"We have informed our government about this demand and requested assistance twice. We didn't come here knowingly; we came out of desperation to support our families back in Sri Lanka. We appeal to the business community and anyone capable of helping to pay this amount. Our only hope for rescue lies with our country," said the detainee.