Raid on Illegal Bar on Bangla Road in Patong Leads to Rescue of Six Underage Sex Workers

[jts-khorat]

55 minutes ago, stoner said:

from the sounds of it you didn't even read the attached link that details what happened. 

 

and i quote....

 

Officials told the Phuket Express that they have rescued six underage female victims in a nearby hotel. The youngest victim is only 15 years old. They were taken into the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

 

 

I read the article. Did you?

 

I tell you what I read:

 

Officials of a government agency belonging to the Ministry of Interior -- not the Phuket or Patong police! -- raiding a place, then telling a newspaper that there were underage girls at a hotel, supposedly belonging to a bar, while the ever-present Patong police never noticed a thing. I bet they would be as baffled as the rest of the outraged world, if the reporter would have gone to the trouble to ask them, which he did not for some reason.

 

The local newspaper -- surely in need of existing in a happy medium between the powers of the land and journalistic truth, as they all are -- is then going on speculating happily about the likely most insignificant of the partners in the company behind it, somehow overlooking how it can even be possible that a bar as visible as that one can be without any "license" for many months, or that companies in Thailand must have a majority Thai-owned share structure -- and this is especially true for these kinds of businesses, and even more so for these kinds of businesses in Patong (at least if they make money).

 

You can bet, if a foreigner alone would open a bar in Soi Seadragon, epicenter of the money-making, not having a license and everything squeaky-clean from the first day on, he would be told on by his competitors immediately. Such a situation is really impossible to exist.

 

We are in Thailand here, for me it is not very difficult to see that some things do not add up at all. But most, you seemingly included, are happily going for the headline alone, never even questioning what the article is so very obviously not telling and how it is describing to us the few details it actually provides.

 

A teenage girl is a victim in this situation, as I said, this is most reprehensible. But my outrage is about the powers in the shadow making this situation happening and gaining handsomely by it, completely untouched -- or even untouchable -- by law.

 

As I said, I would bet money that this place will not stay closed for long at all.

[n00dle]

5 hours ago, stoner said:

this comment is filth. 

This is the real ASEAN now. 

[Captain Monday]

5 hours ago, still kicking said:

Why?

Pure victim blaming. Lot of that seems to be going on lately.

[hotchilli]

Quote from the link:

Officials found a woman only identified as Ms. Taksakorn or Nam who presented herself as a bar manager and Ms. Watcharakorn or Yuki who is allegedly a broker providing prostitutes. The bar was also being operated without permission. They were taken to the Patong Police Station to face charges of operating an entertainment venue without a permit or license and human trafficking.

 

Only raided after the O.U.R informed authorities, didn't local operators or police know about this venue before-hand?

[steven100]

The bar should be shut down and the owners prosecuted to the full extent for having underage girls on the premises.  Sadly,  TIT and my guess is the bar will be up and running again in a few weeks anyway.

[KhaoYai]

17 hours ago, steven100 said:

i would agree ..... they work there and send the money back to mama upcountry.  They aren't chained to the post or anything like that.

Please have a think about what you are saying.  I understand why you might think that way but there are a number of things to consider. I'm not critcising you per se, just asking that you consider that a girl doesn't have to be chained to be trafficked.

 

There is a strange phenomena in some Thai families, something I've been a victim of and still don't understand it but its very real.

 

That is the power that familes have over the younger female members of their clan.  With these families, they can ask the girls to do anything and the girl can't refuse.  Its usually the youngest female child that is subject to such power and the requests upon them can be various.

 

Before we were married my ex wife's family forced her to go to work as a cleaner in Brunei for 2 years to pay off her mother's gambling debt.  After we were married they continually asked her to get money from me - exerting severe pressure.  The only way she could get out of that was to divorce me. Her family, she said, would never give up making demands.  Its a long story and I don't want to do my dirty washing in public so you'll just have to trust me - the phenomena is very very real.

 

Its not a factor of all Thai families but I have seen this in action before and the girls just cannot say no. They are conditioned from birth that they must do what the family asks of them.  The requests are not always severe - sometimes they just get saddled with all the housework and treated like a servant but whatever the request, they must and normally do, give in.

 

I've never got my head around it - why don't they just leave?  However, I accept it exists because I've seen it in action.  I've also been aware of it from conversations with Thai friends.

 

Some families send their daughters to work as prostitutes. Some are up front about it, some just tell them to go find work in Pattaya etc. and tell them how much they need to send home - amounts they are never going to make in a 'normal' job so prostitution is implied.

 

Then there are the young girls that see older 'working girls' return home on visits with their new clothes, iphones etc. and want it for themselves.  Others may be very young single mothers who need to provide for their family etc. etc. etc.

 

Whatever the reason, their is well documented evidence that any females, getting involved in prostitution and the abuse if often involves, often end up with physiciatric problems later in life - sometimes severe problems. The younger the victim, the more serious these problems can be.  Some get involved with drugs, theft and all sorts of low end activities.  They often have a 'boyfriend' who is more akin to a pimp and takes most of their money off them.

 

I am not saying that the above applies to all 'working girls' - there are a few that make it though and make a lot of money from 'the business' but I'd wager that many, if not most, finish up with nothing to show for themselves after spending years with sweaty old men bouncing up and down on top of them.

 

I have nothing against prostitution but given the risk that it could completely wreck their lives, I do think that the involvement of very young girls in prostitution is totally abhorrent.

 

Also think about this, prostitution if rife all over asia. Visitors often think its all about Pattaya, Sukhumvit, Phuket all the areas where many foreign tourists come to for sex.  But I've seen it said that the sex service industry for foreigners is only about 10% of the total market and I believe it.

 

There are private clubs, Thai Cafes, massage parlours, hostess bars and karaoke bars etc. all over Thailand and the vast majority are aimed at the domestic market. Many have young girls working for them but they are hidden from view

 

That equals a hell of a lot of young girls that are potentially at risk of abuse and serious psychiatric problems at some point in the future.

[steven100]

9 minutes ago, KhaoYai said:

but I have seen this in action before and the girls just cannot say no. They are conditioned from birth that they must do what the family asks of them. 

I understand exactly what your saying and unfortunately it seems ingrained in alot of thai families. Very sorry and sad to hear about your ex-wifes story. 

[FritsSikkink]

19 hours ago, BritScot said:

Where did it say they were 15 in the post? Under 19 is classed as underage in prostitution Thailand. The term "to young to concent" used yet in villages up and down Thailand girls 15 or younger marry all the time and sometimes to much older men. Young girls of the very poor are often sold into basic bondage to karaoke/bar etc. This has been thai cultural for hundreds of years. Right or wrong people should never judge through western culture eyes.

It says so in the link provided in the OP.

Young children being sold isn't Thai culture at all. Yes it happens and the sick people doing so should be jailed. That you think it is ok is sick. 

Here proof that it isn't a cultural thing:  

 

[FritsSikkink]

20 hours ago, steven100 said:

i would agree ..... they work there and send the money back to mama upcountry.  They aren't chained to the post or anything like that.

So you think it is ok for a 15 year old to be a prostitute, what a nice person are you.

[FritsSikkink]

18 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

He's right though. Highly unlikely they worked there against their will. 

So you think it is ok for a 15 year old to be a prostitute, what a nice person are you.

[steven100]

Just now, FritsSikkink said:

So you think it is ok for a 15 year old to be a prostitute, what a nice person are you.

I never said it was ok, so don't put words in my mouth. It is not ok, and the owners need to be arrested and the place closed.

[FritsSikkink]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

I never said it was ok, so don't put words in my mouth. It is not ok, and the owners need to be arrested and the place closed.

You said they weren't chained, which is a ridiculous comment to make.

[steven100]

3 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

You said they weren't chained, which is a ridiculous comment to make.

sorry for my ridiculous comment.  The place should be shut down and those involved arrested and sent to jail. The six underage that were there should be enlisted in school studies for better education for their future.

[billd766]

15 hours ago, still kicking said:

Wow you beat me 

78 years of practice.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:11 PM, sammieuk1 said:

Taking business away from police controlled sex bars is a very serious offence ????

No police were involved in this DPA raid until they were taken to the police station by officials for charges.

[ubonr1971]

16 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No police were involved in this DPA raid until they were taken to the police station by officials for charges.

Whats DPA stand for?

 

Actually I have a friend who's involved in a rescue charity here in Thailand. They do undercover work and they are all farang. They work with the police. They are involved in the sting operation and the cops basically go in and raid the place on the actual day when it happens. This group of westerners also operate in the Philippines. The local police get all the glory but they dont care. They want to remain anonymous and move onto the next bust. Im not making this up. 

[Liverpool Lou]

3 minutes ago, ubonr1971 said:

23 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No police were involved in this DPA raid until they were taken to the police station by officials for charges.

Whats DPA stand for?

It's all there in the OP.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 minutes ago, ubonr1971 said:

Actually I have a friend who's involved in a rescue charity here in Thailand. They do undercover work and they are all farang. They work with the police.

Good for him.  Not in this raid, though, apparently. 

[ubonr1971]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Good for him.  Not in this raid, though, apparently. 

how do you know. Were you there?

[Liverpool Lou]

10 minutes ago, ubonr1971 said:

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Good for him.  Not in this raid, though, apparently. 

how do you know. Were you there?

No, but I did read the OP in full, unlike you, and the organisation to which you refer was not mentioned, neither was any police involvement.

 

Was he there?  Didn't think so.

[steven100]

On 3/16/2023 at 1:16 PM, Tarteso said:

Another one Bad Guy way to Bangkok Hilton.????

yes should be,  problem here is he may negotiate as happens alot of the time.

[sammieuk1]

53 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No police were involved in this DPA raid until they were taken to the police station by officials for charges.

Try reading it in single syllables If your struggling ???? 

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, sammieuk1 said:

Try reading it in single syllables If your struggling ???? 

I'm having no struggles with reading, unlike your composition skills that do seem to be!

[sammieuk1]

16 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

I'm having no struggles with reading, unlike your composition skills that do seem to be!

The ability to read between lines in my "composition" is also required ???? 

[KhunLA]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:03 PM, kcpattaya said:

The "Rescue" of Six Underage Sex Workers... 
If they were kept there without their consent and locked up without possibility to escape - that would be very very bad.
95% "sure" however, that was not the case. 
Just saying.

Physically unable to leave, and forced under duress is about the same thing.  If not an extremely mature 15 yr old (think about were we are), then she definitely falls under definition of 'forced child sex worker'.

 

As stated ... does show your character to even think that is acceptable.  Laws are there to protect kids, not mature enough to make those decisions.

 

Most under 20 surely are not, or even want to have sex with some old smelly, alcohol breath farang (assuming customer base on bangla).  Bad enough those in financial despair go down that road.

 

Hopefully they get the counseling and assistance they need, though unfortunately, I doubt it.

[ubonr1971]

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, but I did read the OP in full, unlike you, and the organisation to which you refer was not mentioned, neither was any police involvement.

 

Was he there?  Didn't think so.

You are a sensitive person it seems. My friend was there. Dont cry on your pillow tonight ka

[Liverpool Lou]

36 minutes ago, ubonr1971 said:

2 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, but I did read the OP in full, unlike you, and the organisation to which you refer was not mentioned, neither was any police involvement.

 

Was he there?  Didn't think so.

Expand  

You are a sensitive  it seems. My friend was there. 

With the police with whom that organisation works?   You know, the police who weren't involved in this raid?!

[mancub]

If all those "Thai Netizens" out there displayed a similar outrage, then it would be less of a social problem. 

[jts-khorat]

14 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No police were involved in this DPA raid until they were taken to the police station by officials for charges.

Indeed. And five very high ranking officers had to be transferred.

[BritScot]

On 3/17/2023 at 4:54 AM, FritsSikkink said:

It says so in the link provided in the OP.

Young children being sold isn't Thai culture at all. Yes it happens and the sick people doing so should be jailed. That you think it is ok is sick. 

Here proof that it isn't a cultural thing:  

 

How dare you! Who do you think you are sluring someone. I never said it was OK.  You need to learn hitting a keyboard is exactly the same as saying it to someone's face and talking linke that at someone will get a severe reaction. I did not see the link I read the post and no ages were given. You are 100% wrong it happens all over Thailand at village level. 14 and 15 year olds living with and marrying. Historically and I think even currently age to marry in Thailand was 15 Historically younger.