The number of cases of bride trafficking, in which women from Myanmar are sold as brides to Chinese men, is on the rise in the border areas between China and Myanmar, according to social welfare organizations.
Given the lack of employment opportunities, Myanmar women are lured by agents with promises of jobs to be trafficked as brides.
Since “Operation 1027” in northern Shan State, locals, including displaced people, have been obtaining temporary border passes (TBP), also known as red books, at the Nan Taw border gate in Muse to enter China and work there.
“They lure the women with job promises. But as soon as they get there, they are sold. Many women come to China to work because there are no job opportunities in Myanmar. It is difficult for them to live and find work in Myanmar. So they come here and try to find any job they can get, only to end up being trafficked,” said an official from a social welfare organization that rescues victims.
The victims include women in their 20s from the border areas as well as other parts of Myanmar such as Magway, Pakokku and Yangon, social welfare officials said.
They are reportedly trafficked as far as China’s Yunnan province, with agents offering 50,000 yuan (about 28 million Myanmar kyat at current market prices) for each woman.
The social welfare group says it has so far rescued six victims who were sold as brides in China and sent them back to their respective townships.
However, the official said that even with cooperation between the two countries, tracking the human traffickers is difficult as some social groups, as well as armed groups are involved.
“Our investigations have revealed that the agents are linked to some organizations. Some armed groups are also involved. We can’t do much, we don’t dare. That’s why there are many things we don’t make public. In some cases, we have to keep quiet just because our involvement could lead to further complications. We can only help within the limits,” said the official.
In some cases, the official said, friends lured the victims with promises of jobs only to traffick them to China. In other cases, the victims themselves agreed to the sale.
Since the military coup, armed conflicts across Myanmar have displaced many civilians, while economic hardship and the fear of being forced into military service have driven others to flee abroad, leading to an increase in migration.
Sent by Shan News.