The blunt truth

[Free and open to all. Bar and restaurant open.]

*The photo exhibition begins on 27 October and ends on 31 October.

Victims from all parts of the world are dying inside Myanmar’s scam compounds — awaiting rescue. Some have been rescued. The rest remain trapped — tortured, starved, stripped of dignity, and left to die — in areas controlled by the BGF and DKBA along the Thai–Myanmar border, with little to no rescue efforts.

The exhibition and panel discussion expose the silence that allows these crimes to continue — pulling back the curtain to let the truth speak for itself, with the hope that this transnational crime will finally be suppressed and every victim can return to their loved ones.

According to the OHCHR report “Online Scam Operations and Trafficking into Forced Criminality in Southeast Asia," at least 120,000 people in Myanmar remain trapped, forced to run online scams. The Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victims (CSNHTVs) has made every effort to rescue victims from the various compounds in both BGF and DKBA, yet almost 300 verified victims remain trapped, severely abused, awaiting urgent rescue.

Thai authorities have announced the successful repatriation of over 12,000 foreigners, but this accounts for less than 10% of those still trapped, with no efforts to continue the rescues no matter how many times CSNHTVs followed up — often met with silence. Many rescued victims are returned without proper screening. The sick and pregnant are often left without care. Survivors remain without legal protection, frequently branded as “scammers,” with no justice, no recognition, and no protection of their basic humanity.

This is not an art show — it’s real evidence.

Over 600 victims from 40 nationalities participated in our online prescreening. Their stories, along with other evidence collected from 2024 to the present, are presented in this exhibition, reflecting the reality on the ground.

Disclaimers

Nothing in this exhibition belongs to CSNHTVs. It belongs to the victims. All photos are real and faces are blurred unless victims are willing to show them purposefully.

Before the panel begins on 30 October, guests are invited to share Filipino and Tanzanian food in the exhibition area — a simple yet powerful reminder of the victims’ diverse origins and shared humanity.

Speakers:

Her Excellency Betty Oyella Bigombe, ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to Thailand.

His Excellency Lindsay Kiptiness, former ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to Thailand.

On-site:

Florean Rwehumbiza Laurean, honorary consul of the United Republic of Tanzania in Thailand.

Jason Tower, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

Kannavee Seubsang, secretary-general of the Fair Party, Human Rights Advocate, and chairperson of Peace Rights Foundation.

Chalida Tajareansuk, chairperson of People Empowerment Foundation.

Eunice Barbara C. Novio, journalist, Inquirer.net.

Thapanee Eadsrichai, journalist, The Reporters.

Representatives:

OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights)

NHRC (National Human Rights Commission, Thailand) – TBC

Moderator: Panu Wongcha-um, FCCT president and Reuters senior correspondent.

Translator: FCCT

Partner Organizations:

Focus Foundation | People Empowerment Foundation | Peace Rights Foundation | National Human Rights Commission | Tanzania Consulate | Kenyan Embassy | Ugandan Embassy | OHCHR | FCCT | CSNHTVs