Stop entrapping and raiding sex workers: advocates

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

Activists at Friday's event.

 

BANGKOK — When cops pose as customers to entrap sex workers to rescue trafficked women and girls, they violate the rights of many more sex workers who get caught up in their raids, an advocacy group said Friday.

 

The Empower Foundation said that for every trafficked minor rescued from the trade, 10 or more voluntary sex workers above the age of 18 have had their lives turned upside down. Citing examples in which police have relied on entrapment, foundation representatives said women end up being held incommunicado as potential witnesses for weeks in detention-like facilities.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/crime-crime/2018/06/01/stop-entrapping-and-raiding-sex-workers-advocates/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2018-06-01

"... women end up being held incommunicado as potential witnesses for weeks in detention-like facilities."

 

sort of like human trafficking.

Better to have 10 voluntary sex workers lives turned upside down,

than not find  one under age ,maybe trafficked child.

 

regards worgeordie

8 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

"... women end up being held incommunicado as potential witnesses for weeks in detention-like facilities."

 

sort of like human trafficking.

 

And never mind that the (supposed) purpose is to find and release underage girls.

 

 

 

Entrapment is supposed to be illegal here, but that little nicety is routinely ignored. Probably 90% of drug busts are total set ups organised by the cops. While rescuing underage or coerced sex workers is admirable, treating others who work there voluntarily so appallingly is wrong. The problem as I see it is simply that the police here do not have the intelligence or patience to do the job within the law. And once the cops break the law routinely, how the hell are others in society supposed to have any respect for it themselves? Add to that cops respect no one, other than their bosses, so to them treating anyone in their net like shit is just normal.

Posting as a drug buyer or as a john is not entrapment.  It is commonly known as a sting operation which in all countries isquite legal.  In order to arrest someone you have to prove that they have committed a crime.  How else are you supposed to do it.  

 

The out is that smart girls ask if you are a cop then negotiate.  If you are you have to tell them.

4 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

 

The out is that smart girls ask if you are a cop then negotiate.  If you are you have to tell them.

Wrong.

I see the RTP's work as nullifying the criminal competition as ordered by their masters. 

I don't think any legal-aged, Thai girls were actually charged with "prostitution".  

3 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Posting as a drug buyer or as a john is not entrapment.  It is commonly known as a sting operation which in all countries isquite legal.  In order to arrest someone you have to prove that they have committed a crime.  How else are you supposed to do it.  

 

The out is that smart girls ask if you are a cop then negotiate.  If you are you have to tell them.

You are clearly confusing the way things operate in more civilised places. Like a cop here is going to admit to being a cop if you ask. And there is a big difference between a sting and a complete set up. I visit lots of people in several different jails. Two were selling drugs and got caught in a sting. The other twenty odd, got totally set up. They weren't dealers and half weren't even users. The cops need to hit their quotas, and will screw anyone over to do so. Your comment about stings being legal everywhere is also incorrect. There is a difference between catching a known criminal and using an agent provocateur to get someone to commit a crime they would not have perpetrated, had they not been pushed into it, and that is illegal most places. Here too, though the cops ignore that whenever it is convenient for them to do so, and dozens of the people I visit stand testament to that fact.

"...cops pose as customers to entrap sex workers..."

 

They didn't need to pose. The girls already knew their names? ?

I know Thailand considers "face" important, but acknowledging reality and legalising prostitution here would make a lot of these issues go away. As the full article states there are hundreds of thousands employed in the sex industry, most of whom would benefit from working in an industry properly governed and regulated, and not having to live in fear of every policeman out there.

13 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Better to have 10 voluntary sex workers lives turned upside down,

than not find  one under age ,maybe trafficked child.

 

regards worgeordie

Really?

I think it is rather disgusting to lock women up that didn't do anything wrong.

Of course getting an underaged girl out of the business is a good thing, but upsetting ten lives?

 

these lazy police love the ''soft targets with benefits''...

I am all against human trafficking, but many of the sex workers I've met could benefit from more power or energy.

 

I am thinking us Johns should organize too and push for our rights (and for lower rates).

1 hour ago, hansnl said:

Really?

I think it is rather disgusting to lock women up that didn't do anything wrong.

Of course getting an underaged girl out of the business is a good thing, but upsetting ten lives?

 

Yes ,really think about it. save one life,while 10 others maybe inconvenienced ,

the trafficked child never asked to be exploited,while the others doing a job by

choice,and all that entails.

regards worgeordie

Police entrapment is unfortunately very common here as darksidedog says above. The cops have their routine and they don't have to prove much. Justice listens to the cops. Many innocents are spending years in prison because of police fabrications.

 

Thai people and their families endure unbelievable hardships because of police like this. It's pathetic. 

Without the 'extraordinary benefits' usually paid after entrapping and raiding, many cops would have to turn to sustainable agriculture to make a living.

 

Btw. I wonder if it is a coincidence or sarcasm to see the ad banner on this page saying:

 

The Executive Wallet - Your business essentials in a slim leather case

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

When cops pose as customers to entrap sex workers

For evidence the cops probably reveal their identity after the act. Kind of free sex as part of their duty. Such noble dedication to their work.  

57 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Yes ,really think about it. save one life,while 10 others maybe inconvenienced ,

the trafficked child never asked to be exploited,while the others doing a job by

choice,and all that entails.

regards worgeordie

Couldn't they raid the place, free the underage child and leave the rest of the workers alone (apart from the ones who brought her there)?

 

I think being held in police detention for several months is more than an inconvenience.

5 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Couldn't they raid the place, free the underage child and leave the rest of the workers alone (apart from the ones who brought her there)?

 

I think being held in police detention for several months is more than an inconvenience.

It says weeks,not months,they need them for witnesses,I suspect if they released

them they would never be seen again.and the cases against the human traffickers

would be dropped.,would you condone that.

 

regards Worgeordie

2 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

I know Thailand considers "face" important, but acknowledging reality and legalising prostitution here would make a lot of these issues go away. As the full article states there are hundreds of thousands employed in the sex industry, most of whom would benefit from working in an industry properly governed and regulated, and not having to live in fear of every policeman out there.

And how about strictly enforcing the law? 

 

If prostitution was illegal the law should be enforced strictly on all actors, from all levels of providers to the clients. If they started detaining, maybe only a few hundred sex tourists, they'd get acclaim from all western countries, and the Farang branch of the industry would die instantly.

Of course this would leave the huge local industry, but similar measures could probably be envisaged. For "face" minded people like Thai males having their pictures posted on Internet could have leverage. Chicago police did just that some years ago...

I have done my share of mongering too, here and elsewhere but believe me knowing I am breaking the law would be enough to "stop" me. And I am going to have a prostate operation soon, anyway...

1 hour ago, 300sd said:

Police entrapment is unfortunately very common here as darksidedog says above. The cops have their routine and they don't have to prove much. Justice listens to the cops. Many innocents are spending years in prison because of police fabrications.

 

Thai people and their families endure unbelievable hardships because of police like this. It's pathetic. 

 

Are there records of such injustice?

5 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

Are there records of such injustice?

only if experience or knowledge is a record

It appears they want to stop ENRAPMENT

Edited June 2, 20188 yr by BangkokTony
spelling

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I don't think any legal-aged, Thai girls were actually charged with "prostitution".  

 

Not to mention, AFAIK, the authorities have still never located and arrested the supposed husband and wife owners of the Victoria place. So they're still out there somewhere, not surprisingly.

 

23 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

It says weeks,not months,they need them for witnesses,I suspect if they released

them they would never be seen again.and the cases against the human traffickers

would be dropped.,would you condone that.

 

regards Worgeordie

If police lock up witnesses then they have great control over them. Don't think that is good.

5 minutes ago, 300sd said:

only if experience or knowledge is a record

 

 

Something tells me you don't want to share your knowledge with the TVF membership..

4 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

 

Something tells me you don't want to share your knowledge with the TVF membership..

or experience, sorry.

17 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Better to have 10 voluntary sex workers lives turned upside down,

than not find  one under age ,maybe trafficked child.

 

regards worgeordie

 If it were fully legalised, they would be better able to control the age of workers. 

It's their body, if they are over 18, it's up to them. 

My body my choice.