Hun Manet befiehlt, kambodschanische Betrügerzentren zu betreiben

SS: In this article for Nikkei Asia, Ananth Baliga reports that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered a nationwide crackdown on scam centers, directing provincial governors, police, the military, and even anti-terrorism forces to dismantle operations involving online fraud and human trafficking. The directive also targets casinos, many of which allegedly house such scams, especially after a 2020 online gambling ban. While government spokespersons insist this move reflects long-standing efforts to combat fraud, human rights activists and regional observers remain skeptical. Critics, including Harvard researcher Jacob Sims and rights advocate Phil Robertson, argue the effort lacks credibility due to entrenched links between Cambodia’s political elite and scam networks. Past crackdowns have failed to produce lasting change, and groups like Amnesty International continue to document widespread abuses and impunity within scam compounds. The move also comes amid heightened tensions with Thailand, which has taken aggressive action against cross-border scam operations, including issuing arrest warrants for relatives of Cambodian Senator Kok An.