Myanmar Military Courts Sentence 12 to Life in Prison for Human Trafficking
BANGKOK, Thailand – Myanmar’s military courts have sentenced 12 individuals, including five Chinese nationals, to life imprisonment for their involvement in human trafficking, forced marriages, and online sex exploitation, state-run media reported on Saturday (Aug 2).
Cases Involve Forced Marriages and Sex Trafficking
According to the Myanmar Alinn newspaper, the convictions cover multiple crimes:
- Distributing sex videos of Myanmar couples online for profit
- Trafficking women into forced marriages in China
- Selling women as brides to Chinese men
In one case, five people, including two Chinese nationals (Lin Te and Wang Xiaofeng), were sentenced on July 29 by a Yangon military court for filming and selling explicit videos involving three Myanmar couples.
Another case involved a woman and three Chinese men (Yibo, Cao Qiu Quan, and Chen Huan), who were convicted of attempting to traffic two Myanmar women—recently married to two of the convicts—into China.
Additionally, three others received life sentences for selling a woman as a bride and attempting to traffic another. A separate case saw a Magway region woman jailed for 10 years for planning to send two women to China as brides.
Human Trafficking Remains a Major Crisis in Myanmar
Myanmar has long struggled with trafficking of women and girls, particularly into forced marriages in China. The problem has worsened since the 2021 military coup, which plunged the country into civil war and economic collapse, leaving millions vulnerable.
A 2018 report by Johns Hopkins University and the Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT) estimated that 21,000 women and girls from northern Myanmar were forced into Chinese marriages between 2013 and 2017.
KWAT’s December 2023 report noted a drop in trafficking cases during the pandemic but warned of a resurgence in 2024 as more Myanmar migrants seek work in China.
Government Crackdown on Trafficking
Major-General Aung Kyaw Kyaw, a deputy Home Affairs minister, stated that authorities handled 53 trafficking cases in 2024, with 34 linked to China. From January to June, Myanmar recorded 80 trafficking cases, including 14 involving fraudulent marriages with foreigners.
What’s Next?
The harsh sentences signal Myanmar’s crackdown on trafficking, but activists argue that poverty, conflict, and weak law enforcement continue to fuel the crisis. Without systemic reforms, vulnerable women and girls remain at risk.
