Wasn’t I just writing about the pirates in my Seychelles casinos article a few days before Captain Richard Phillips was kidnapped. You should have read my blog skipper!
Glad you’re back safe.

Unscrupulous…they are pirates because they need to survive. Many of us might think ‘how can people behave like that, don’t they have a conscience.’ Well no, after what they have suffered why would they. Unfortunately it happens, it’s life…and death.

In another part of the world of the ‘have nots’ other ruthless operators are at large…..Three years ago the Chinese army crossed the border from Yunnan into Myanmar to close down casinos that were attracting too many Chinese gamblers.
Since then the casinos in the border towns have found their way back with a vengance …and so have the Chinese.

There is little police presence in this area and ruthless gangs (gangs, because operating on their own they might as well cut their own throats).
Two months ago the Chinese army was in there again closing down the casinos and 5,000 Chinese citizens have since left the main township of Maijayang where the authorities, no doubt under pressure from the Chinese army, have declared gambling illegal …again…and implemented some drastic measures such as cutting off the power, water and communications in town.

The warlords run the show here so they must have copped some heavy pressure to kowtow to the Chinese authorities.

Why the sudden crackdown again….because the casino operators, loan sharks, and an assortment of other lowlife, not being content with their gambling revenue had resorted to kidnapping….
Over fifty young people from the north of China had been lured to the casino town in northern Myanmar over the previous few months with promises of work and were tortured by gangs who phoned their parents and demanded money to be paid into bank accounts.
The parents heard their children crying on the phone and saying they were being tortured and were told “their boys would be skinned or their childrens’ fingers would be sent to them”

Still have your fingers? Click once, it’s much easier.

later mav