Amnesty chief: Cambodian state ‘probably complicit’ in scam compounds

Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, has claimed the Cambodian government has likely been complicit in the existence of scamming compounds in Cambodia. According to Callamard, the government has not taken serious action to curb the proliferation of these compounds, despite five security firms with political ties not facing any legal consequences. Callamard argued that the Cambodian state is either "acquiescent" or "probably complicit" in the crimes committed within these compounds.

During a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, Callamard revealed that victims of these scamming centres suffered from rape, torture, forced labor, and slavery. One case in particular involved a female victim being raped three times after failing to generate income from her coerced scamming work. The report, titled "Official Business: Security Companies and Authorities at Scamming Compounds in Cambodia", highlights the involvement of security guard firms in facilitating these criminal activities.

Callamard urged the Cambodian government to view victims as victims rather than criminals, and demanded a thorough investigation into the role of private security companies in enabling these crimes. She also called for accountability to be placed on the individuals responsible. The 160-page report urges foreign governments and the international community to press Cambodia to conduct a diligent and impartial investigation into companies, their leadership, and state officials linked to scamming compounds.

The report also suggests a review of law enforcement, military, financial, and security cooperation with Cambodian institutions and individuals accused of enabling or protecting scamming compounds. Amnesty International chose to launch the report in Bangkok rather than Phnom Penh, claiming the decision was unrelated to the ongoing Thai-Cambodian conflict, and that it could not hold the launch in Phnom Penh due to its regional office being based in Bangkok.