Story of Thai policeman in exile and victims of human trafficking revealed in parliament

[webfact]

 

Pol Maj-Gen Paween Pongsirin, former deputy commissioner of the 8th Provincial Police Bureau, who led an investigation into a Rohingya human trafficking network over six years ago, said last night that he feels relieved after his side of the story was revealed in parliament, by Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome, during the general debate yesterday.

 

Currently living in exile in Australia, after escaping with his life more than six years ago, Pol Maj-Gen Paween led an investigation into human trafficking activities in Thailand’s southern border provinces. His work led to the arrest and prosecution of 75 suspects, including three army officers and one naval officer. A few others, including an army lieutenant general, who was then a special advisor to the Royal Thai Army, later surrendered and were eventually indicted.

 

The probe was launched after security forces stumbled on a jungle camp in Sadao district of Songkhla in August 2015, where hundreds of illegal Rohingya immigrants, victims of a human trafficking gang, were being detained. The remains of dozens of Rohingya were also found buried around the camp.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/story-of-thai-policeman-in-exile-and-victims-of-human-trafficking-revealed-in-parliament/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-21

 

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[internationalism]

much more interesting, to he very last paragraph:

"Things would have been different if Thailand was truly democratic and with an honest administration, he said. Paween said he fled Thailand in Nov 2015 after his investigation into mass graves at migrant camps was halted after five months by influential people in the government, including the military and police themselves."

https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/posts/5245709785447911

[timendres]

5 hours ago, internationalism said:

much more interesting, to he very last paragraph:

"Things would have been different if Thailand was truly democratic and with an honest administration, he said. Paween said he fled Thailand in Nov 2015 after his investigation into mass graves at migrant camps was halted after five months by influential people in the government, including the military and police themselves."

https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/posts/5245709785447911

It took real courage to push forward with that investigation.

His need to flee to another country to protect his life highlights the fact.

[Jeff Olssson]

Obviously there are honest and courageous people even in the high ranks of Thai army but unfortunately there are few and far between. The problem is that the system is corrupt and individuals have very little chance to beat the system.

 

Edited February 20, 2022 by Jeff Olssson
typo

[ThailandRyan]

15 minutes ago, To4ka said:

This story will pick up pace.

Either that or with the current push to eliminate the Human Rights Watch, it may just end up being buried, eliminated from the web like other stories, and then he will cease to be seen anymore.  Of course this is my opinion but then......

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

Either that or with the current push to eliminate the Human Rights Watch, it may just end up being buried, eliminated from the web like other stories, and then he will cease to be seen anymore.  Of course this is my opinion but then......

Unfortunately I think are correct

[Kiwithl]

People can disappear in Australia. Probably not as easy as in neighbouring countries though.

Hope not. Must be one of the good ones.

Wonder why they tell what country he is in?

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, Jeff Olssson said:

Obviously there are honest and courageous people even in the high ranks of Thai army but unfortunately there are few and far between. The problem is that the system is corrupt and individuals have very little chance to beat the system.

 

So we can put the honest and courageous ones in the minority?

[heybruce]

"Rangsiman raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, but the prime minister dismissed the issue and moved on to other matters, prompting the Move Forward MP to call the prime minister a “savage”."

 

The PM doesn't want to discuss the matter.  What a surprise.

 

These events came to light shortly after the 2014 coup while Prayut was self-appointed PM and ruled by decree using section 44 of the interim constitution that was imposed on the nation.  At the time the military claimed the army had nothing to do with the human smuggling and blamed it all on local politicians and the police.  The RTP proved that the army, particularly LtGen Manas, was a major player in the trafficking. 

 

Prayut and Thailand's military want all this to be forgotten.  Paween Pongsirin will never be safe in Thailand so long as the army is in charge.

[spidermike007]

It is quite obvious that human trafficking, slavery, drug trafficking, and lot of other very dark stuff is being done at the highest levels here, and massive amounts of money are being made by army, navy and other government officials.

 

And it is equally obvious that not only is Prayuth totally insincere about fighting this rot, he is protecting those who are guilty of it. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

5 hours ago, internationalism said:

much more interesting, to he very last paragraph:

"Things would have been different if Thailand was truly democratic and with an honest administration, he said. Paween said he fled Thailand in Nov 2015 after his investigation into mass graves at migrant camps was halted after five months by influential people in the government, including the military and police themselves."

https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/posts/5245709785447911

To think, some clowns on here wanted these people in charge of running the country. 

 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

It is quite obvious that human trafficking, slavery, drug trafficking, and lot of other very dark stuff is being done at the highest levels here, and massive amounts of money are being made by army, navy and other government officials.

 

And it is equally obvious that not only is Prayuth totally insincere about fighting this rot, he is protecting those who are guilty of it. 

Always has been. Same as over the border in Cambodia and Laos. 

 

A lot of money has been made from illegal activities, and now they try to pretend that it's all legit from family businesses, land inherited, etc. 

 

But we know their dirty little secrets. 

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

To think, some clowns on here wanted these people in charge of running the country. 

 

 

To think that some clowns think the alternative is better, were showed recently how the PTP viewed foreigner's racist with their views on removing test and go. Now i have changed my mind about the coup, but not about the PTP or most Thai politicians. Whoever is in power is only there for their own benefit. FFW seems to be one of the few that can illicit change. But they just don't have the support. Sad actually we will seen a new government but even if it changes to the PTP we won't see any changes in corruption or goverment style. They are all just the same (again excluding Move forward).

 

The PTP is trying to amend the law so the convicted criminal Thaksin can exert power again. When will they ever change. They not in it for the people but for their leader. 

 

Anyway this story is horrible and its great that move forward is exposing stuff like this. Too bad they don't have the power. They might actually be the best alternative there is. Not a realist alternative unfortunately. 

[heybruce]

9 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

To think, some clowns on here wanted these people in charge of running the country. 

 

True.  ThaiVisa was flooded with posts from people who approved of the coup.  "The General is a good man" and "Give Prayut a chance" were posted often.  That's when I learned that many people's support for democracy is not deep.

[kingstonkid]

23 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

It is quite obvious that human trafficking, slavery, drug trafficking, and lot of other very dark stuff is being done at the highest levels here, and massive amounts of money are being made by army, navy and other government officials.

 

And it is equally obvious that not only is Prayuth totally insincere about fighting this rot, he is protecting those who are guilty of it. 

To be fair he really has not choice but to protect those that got him into power.  If not then he will become the next Thaksin and possibly lose everything.

 

The best thing tht can happen is that the parties join together not in coaliton but in a sense that they build a true party to go against the government.  Too many small parties that have money people in charge and only running for the graft that they can get.

[DaveE13]

2 hours ago, Kiwithl said:

People can disappear in Australia. Probably not as easy as in neighbouring countries though.

Hope not. Must be one of the good ones.

Wonder why they tell what country he is in?

When this all come out 6 years ago he said he was going to Australia.  And prayut said at the time if he had proof to tell him about it . Yes right he was going to hang around 

Edited February 21, 2022 by DaveE13

[DaveE13]

And look who's on charge of stopping and investigating human trafficking. Prawit lol 

[brianthainess]

Dissmisied the issue       savage

2 hours ago, Kiwithl said:

People can disappear in Australia. Probably not as easy as in neighbouring countries though.

Hope not. Must be one of the good ones.

Wonder why they tell what country he is in?

It was all over the news when it happened so its general knowledge.

[brianthainess]

This is worth reading the full story. Prayuth dismissed the issue and moved on to other matters. Savage is what the MF MP called Prayuth, when asked to remove that remark he refused.   Good keep chipping away at Prayuth, eventually he will crumble, with luck and courage Thailand can Move Forward.

[mikebell]

A dreadful indictment of a country when an honest cop is forced to flee for his life and live in exile. A total failure by Prayuth and co.

[worgeordie]

This is not a country for good men......

regards Worgeordie

[greeneking]

1 hour ago, DaveE13 said:

And look who's on charge of stopping and investigating human trafficking. Prawit lol 

And they want to ban Amnesty nternational.....

I think less people wear yellow on Mondays now, but a lot still do. especially those who are doing well under the status quo.

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

To think that some clowns think the alternative is better, were showed recently how the PTP viewed foreigner's racist with their views on removing test and go. Now i have changed my mind about the coup, but not about the PTP or most Thai politicians. Whoever is in power is only there for their own benefit. FFW seems to be one of the few that can illicit change. But they just don't have the support. Sad actually we will seen a new government but even if it changes to the PTP we won't see any changes in corruption or goverment style. They are all just the same (again excluding Move forward).

 

The PTP is trying to amend the law so the convicted criminal Thaksin can exert power again. When will they ever change. They not in it for the people but for their leader. 

 

Anyway this story is horrible and its great that move forward is exposing stuff like this. Too bad they don't have the power. They might actually be the best alternative there is. Not a realist alternative unfortunately. 

So, all that enthusiasm for the coup, cheerleading for the generals, supporting and justifying forcing out the elected government, all those posts arguing that suppressing democracy was the right thing to do "under the circumstances"...

 

What is the excuse now for all that sanctimonious twaddle? The big boys made you do it and then ran away?

[robblok]

9 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

So, all that enthusiasm for the coup, cheerleading for the generals, supporting and justifying forcing out the elected government, all those posts arguing that suppressing democracy was the right thing to do "under the circumstances"...

 

What is the excuse now for all that sanctimonious twaddle? The big boys made you do it and then ran away?

I was wrong said that many times before. Just don't see things changing anytime soon and definitely dont see the PTP as a desirable alternative. I see it as a slightly lesser evil.  Had i known back then how long they would have stayed i definitely would not have supported it. That is one thing for sure.

 

But i think anyone that thinks things will change much of PTP gets in power is equally misguided. They are just too similar in how they govern (covering up stuf and strong arming their enemies).  Told you this before, and I havent changed my views.

[internationalism]

from memory, there were some 30 mass graves with some 2000 corpses.

How many more are still undiscovered in the dense mountain jungles of malaysian border areas?

Rohingya were "legally" smuggled by thai officials through all Thailand from Mae Hong Son province to some 2000km Sadao province. They had a back up of paperwork to pass through multiple police and military checkpoints.

If there was a surplus of slaves to be sold to Malaysia, the victims, who have payed in $$$$ to be smuggled, were ordered to call their relatives in Rakhine State in Myanmar, to extort further $2-3k. If relatives were reluctant to transfer money, victims were tortured while broadcasting their scream in another phone call. If no payment received, they were murdered, as they were worthless now.

Blame is also on so holy Malaysian muslims, who took part in the procedure of enslaving their brethren. Without strong demand for a cheap/free labour (including sex slavery), this trade won't exist. 

 

On the margin of atrocities on Roghinyas - thai border marines trawlers were towing flimsy and overcrowded boats into a full sea, breaking their engines and allowed to drift into ocean

[Dont confuse me]

10 hours ago, timendres said:

It took real courage to push forward with that investigation.

His need to flee to another country to protect his life highlights the fact.

Shows you how deep the corruption runs.

[OneZero]

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

It is quite obvious that human trafficking, slavery, drug trafficking, and lot of other very dark stuff is being done at the highest levels here, and massive amounts of money are being made by army, navy and other government officials.

 

Operation Paper: The United States and Drugs in Thailand and Burma | The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus (apjjf.org)

A long but very interesting essay (chapter in a 2010 book).   If McCoy's 1972 "The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia" interested you, this serves as a historical postscript.  Today in 2022, Thai newspapers are still filled with stories of the failure to effectively reform the police.  Following is a quote of one of the essays conclusions: 

 Quote:

  "The police force that exists in Thailand today is for all intents and purposes the same one that was built by Pol. Gen. Phao Sriyanond in the 1950s. . . . It took on paramilitary functions through new special units, including the border police. It ran the drug trade, carried out abductions and killings with impunity, and was used as a political base for Phao and his associates. Successive attempts to reform the police, particularly from the 1970s onwards, have all met with failure despite almost universal acknowledgment that something must be done."

[HAPPYNUFF]

I recall seeing  on this forum, some months ago, a photograph of a number of the wealthiest men in Thailand at a gathering.

All were wearing  black suits, white shirts, black ties, and  black sun glasses.   I think they  would have terrified even  a Mafia Don they looked so bloody sinister and evil.      But hey  T.I.T.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

All were wearing  black suits, white shirts, black ties, and  black sun glasses.

Mr Brown, Blonde, Pink, Orange and White.

[RobU]

On 2/20/2022 at 7:53 AM, baz69er said:

 

 

 

9 hours ago, Kiwithl said:

People can disappear in Australia. Probably not as easy as in neighbouring countries though.

Hope not. Must be one of the good ones.

Wonder why they tell what country he is in?

I think the people who would harm him will already know where he is since they have access to government  and military intelligence servicesblockquote widgetlockquote widget

Edited February 21, 2022 by RobU