A total of 687 Nepalis trapped in illegal online scam centers across Southeast Asia have been rescued. Among those repatriated, 562 were rescued from Cambodia, 111 from Myanmar, 8 from Laos, and 6 from Thailand. The Cambodian government has waived fines for 12 Nepalis and has been requested to waive fines for an additional 172 individuals. (8 Jestha, Kathmandu)
At a press conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri informed that the identification and rescue of Nepalis trapped in illegal scam centers operating near the borders of Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand are ongoing.
According to him, through efforts of the Nepalese missions in Thailand and Myanmar and coordination with relevant authorities, 616 individuals had previously been rescued. In the past two weeks, an additional 71 Nepalis have been saved. Among those rescued, 562 were from Cambodia, 111 from Myanmar, 8 from Laos, and 6 from Thailand, all safely returned to Nepal, stated Paudel Kshetri.
The spokesperson also noted that many more Nepalis may still be trapped in these areas. At the request of the Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok, the Cambodian government has so far waived fines for 12 Nepalis, and requests have been made to waive fines for another 172. Efforts are underway via the Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok to secure the release and facilitate the rescue of Nepalis detained on charges including organized crime and human trafficking. The ministry also stated that initiatives are ongoing to secure the pardon of 18 Nepalis imprisoned in Myanmar, and that necessary support is being provided to them.
