Satellite images reveal Myanmar’s KK Park scam centre remains largely intact despite military demolition claims, with experts calling the raids a PR stunt.
YANGON: Satellite images show a major Myanmar scam compound remains largely standing despite a declared military crackdown, with experts calling the raids a limited “PR stunt”.
Analysis of KK Park, one of Myanmar’s most notorious scam centres, reveals recent damage to approximately 100 buildings – about a quarter of the complex.
The images from Planet Labs PBC, taken between October 30 and Sunday, showed 22 buildings destroyed and around 80 damaged or probably damaged.
Crucially, the complex’s central section – extensively developed in recent months – appeared untouched by the destruction.
Jason Tower, senior expert at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, told AFP the military was conducting a “PR stunt in KK Park” to create the illusion of a crackdown.
This contradicts state newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar’s Sunday claim that “all the buildings are being demolished”.
An AFP investigation in October revealed construction at KK Park had continued following another much-publicised crackdown earlier this year.
The military has ruled Myanmar since its 2021 coup sparked civil war, with analysts saying it allows militias to profit from scam hubs while balancing pressure from key backer China to shut them down.
While recent upheaval caused about 1,500 workers to flee to Thailand, experts believe many more remained and moved to nearby scam centres.
“The Myanmar military’s claims that it has dismantled scam syndicates are entirely false,” Tower said. – AFP
