Picture of Burmese people being trafficked courtesy of WSJ

 

By Bob Scott

 

In a harrowing tale of courage and justice, a Burmese teenager hailed the Government of Thailand for rescuing him from a nightmare of forced labour and trafficking. The 17 year old’s ordeal ended with the conviction of his captor in Bangkok last year, bringing a glimmer of hope to the youth as he waits to return home to Myanmar.

 

The teenage survivor expressed his gratitude to the Government of Thailand.

 

“I would like to thank the court and the government shelter who took good care of me. I would also like to thank IJM (his friendly neighbour) who supported me throughout the legal case.”

 

Kidnapped from his family for a mere 10,000 baht (£230), the boy was smuggled across the border from Myanmar to Thailand under the cover of night. Upon reaching his employer’s home in Bangkok, he was cruelly informed of his illegal worker status, with threats of arrest looming if he tried to escape.

 

Forced to toil in a local market making and selling roti bread, the boy endured brutal beatings with phone charging cords and rubber hoses for failing to meet sales targets. For half a year, he suffered in silence, working into the early hours, deprived of pay and adequate food.

 

 

The breaking point came when he confided in a concerned neighbour, showing them his bruises and revealing the abuse he endured. The empathetic neighbour helped the teen report his plight, leading to a swift rescue by police who brought him to safety in a government shelter.

 

Supported by IJM, the boy received much-needed aftercare and legal assistance. Their efforts culminated in a significant legal victory, with the trafficker sentenced to four years and three months in prison, alongside a hefty fine of 640,190 baht (£14,761).

 

The resilient teenager revealed he was relieved his ordeal was finally over.

 

“I feel that the Thai court has delivered justice. I am still deeply hoping that I will be compensated for my unpaid wages but the sentencing will serve as an example for it not to be repeated to anyone else.”

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-17

 

 

And the people who employed him, no charges for slavery, abuse, theft of wages etc? 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Kidnapped from his family for a mere 10,000 baht (£230)

The poor lad wasn't kidnapped. He was sold.

His seller (family?) should be ashamed of themselves.

Slavery is alive and well in the 21st century.  😟

12 hours ago, Artisi said:

And the people who employed him, no charges for slavery, abuse, theft of wages etc? 

Of course not....

10 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The poor lad wasn't kidnapped. He was sold.

His seller (family?) should be ashamed of themselves.

Slavery is alive and well in the 21st century.  😟

Exactly what I was thinking... sold for 10k

12 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The poor lad wasn't kidnapped. He was sold.

His seller (family?) should be ashamed of themselves.

Slavery is alive and well in the 21st century.  😟

 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Exactly what I was thinking... sold for 10k

Unfortunately this happens a lot, the family who are probably destitute and not that well educated are feed a load of nonsense / promises etc as to how they are their son will be so better-off  - they will find him a well-paying job with great conditions etc, here's Bht 10,000 in advance. 

Those who organised it should be removed from the air supply and the ar$eholes who exploited with should be named and shamed and locked up and treated the same way.

 

But being Thailand mai bpen rai .

International Roti seller trafficking ring .

 

BUSTED!

Part of the 21st century Slavery uncovered.

And the Slaver busted.

One victim rescued, but another 49.6million  still in that condition...

 

21st century slavery in the world - ค้นหาด้วย Google

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

a glimmer of hope to the youth as he waits to return home to Myanmar.

 

 

I sincerely hope not back to his family.

 

You earn my respect young man and I wish you good luck and success back in Burma, especially when the Junta is defeated and democracy returns.

On 1/17/2025 at 7:32 PM, Tropicalevo said:

His seller (family?) should be ashamed of themselvey es.

Slavery is alive and well in the 21st century.  😟

 

In Southeast Asia, They have some negative cultural tradition:

Among poor families, their children are often sought to sacrifice themselves to help their parents(and younger siblings).

While their family ties look a lot stronger than in the 1st world.

 

And such a mindset makes a fertile ground for the illicit trade of human trafficking as reported in the article.

 

And Slavery is still very much alive in various forms, even today.

2021 world statistics says nearly 50 million people are in that sort of conditions.

 

modern day slavery in today's world - Google Search

 

 

Hopefully the scum will not punish his family members to send a message.

 

On 1/17/2025 at 5:14 PM, snoop1130 said:

The breaking point came when he confided in a concerned neighbour, showing them his bruises and revealing the abuse he endured. The empathetic neighbour helped the teen report his plight, leading to a swift rescue by police who brought him to safety in a government shelter.

 

Supported by IJM, the boy received much-needed aftercare and legal assistance. Their efforts culminated in a significant legal victory, with the trafficker sentenced to four years and three months in prison, alongside a hefty fine of 640,190 baht (£14,761).

 

That's really nice to hear.  What a good guy his neighbour is.  We hear so much news about Thais being apathetic to the suffering of others.