Migrants Tell Of 'Ruined Lives' In Thailand

[webfact]

Migrants tell of 'ruined lives'

By Wanapa Khaopa

The Nation

Many people from neighbouring countries, who believe that work in Thailand is the ticket to a better life, pay to be smuggled here, oblivious to the risks of human trafficking.

They often end up in conditions that are hellish.

Many migrants seeking paid work end up enslaved in brothels, factories, homes or fishing boats. In the case of women, this can take the form of sexual slavery.

Burmese man Ye, and Sanda, a Christian woman from Chin State in the same country, were among 12 trafficked migrants who shared their bitter stories recently with Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking. Ezeilo travelled throughout Thailand for 12 days this month to assess the situation here for a report to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council next year.

After being trafficked into Thailand, Ye, who had been told he would be paid Bt4,200 a month, was forced to work on a fishing boat for free, after being told he would have to pay off debts incurred in bringing him here.

Ye told of migrants who, exhausted and unable to continue working, were simply pushed into the sea. He said he felt hopeless and hated the captain of the boat, who took advantage of him and the other workers.

Another migrant worker told Ye he had already paid off his debt but was forced to con?tinue working, and had been doing so for 10 years. Every time he tried to escape, the Thai police would catch him and return him to the boat, where his debt was topped up with a fee for his attempt to flee.

Ye worked for eight months on one boat. He was never paid for his work and forbidden to keep any cash of his own. Compared to Burma, whose government is often damned as repressive, he felt Thailand was even more like a prison. Once a worker boards a fishing boat, he said, there was often no escape.

Finally, however, Ye was able to escape. He said he could never forgive the captain. He wanted all Burmese thinking of coming to Thailand to hear his story, so they could be spared the same fate.

Sanda, the Christian Chin woman, was trafficked by a Mon couple to work at a construction site in Thailand, only to find herself working without pay in the fishing industry and sexually enslaved.

Sanda had to gut about 50 kg of fish per day for the Mon couple, but never received payment. They said her wages were taken to cover fees paid to "buy" her, and for her rent, which was Bt600 per month.

Every night when she returned to the room, Sanda said she fought the Mon man, who demanded sex. Essentially a sex slave, she fears she may have been infected with HIV.

Sanda was held for one month by the couple before another Mon man "bought" her from the couple and helped her escape. They later married. Sanda and her husband now work at different construction sites, earning Bt200 each per day. Life is a struggle as she has a lot of debt and has to support herself and her children.

Coming to Thailand ruined her life, Sanda said. Since arriving she has been looked down on as if she was not human, she said. Other migrants told her she could expect no legal protection in Thailand.

"There is no law here," Sanda said. She does not want any more Burmese people to come to the Kingdom and suffer as she has.

-- The Nation 2011-08-23

[jonclark]

Reading stories like this you feel such pity for the people being forced to live like this in the search for a better life, but even more pity for the Thai people that find this sort of treatment of their fellow man is acceptable and their arrogance that they are in some way superior.

Unfortunately the government, like all the past governments will respond will do <deleted> all.

Khon Thai Jai Dee .....not

[jackr]

I would like to suggest therapy for all that pent-up anger...

The typical response of the Thai apologist.

I don't see any anger. As sad as it reads, what he says is actually very close to the mark. The only addition I'd make is they don't realise they're being so.

[geriatrickid]

Why bring Thaksin into this discussion? The previous military junta and its successor administration led by Mr. Abhisit didn't make an effort in this regard did they? The treatment of foreigners goes far beyond politics and is symptomatic of the nation as a whole. However, before one embarks on a blame the Thai people campaign, just remember that there are many Thais that do have compassion and do care about the plight of others. Who do you think staffs the refugee centers on the Burmese border? Who do you think staffs the animal care facilities? Who do you think has to pick up the drunk farangs in Pattaya?

Also, keep in mind that Thailand was invaded and laid waste to by the Burmese and who destroyed the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The war shaped the mindset of Thailand. It is a country that would make treaties and give up land to try and keep its sovereignty. Of course the Thais are going to be wary of foreigners. It continually had hostile countries on its borders. The Japanese occcupation was a humiliating experience that has been covered up ever since. Yes there is barbaric behaviour in respect to foreigners, however the Thais at least never set up death camps to exterminate people as did one European nation which staffed the death camps with a cross section of various Europeans who all seemed to take great delight in their chosen occupations. Thailand has never massacred non Thai ethnic groups with quite the fervor as one saw in Rwanda/Burundi or Bosnia/Serbia and Thailand never quite perfected the institution of slavery to quite the same level as European or American or Arab nations. So, please keep it inperspective.

Edited August 23, 2011 by metisdead
Removed deleted posts from reply.

[random]

these Thai people do as they see fit, then go an make merit, wake up early and give food to a monk, visit a few temples, and all is forgiven and they continue their journey towards nirvana leaving behind the stench of their lies and abuse and corruption,

[whybother]

these Thai people do as they see fit, then go an make merit, wake up early and give food to a monk, visit a few temples, and all is forgiven and they continue their journey towards nirvana leaving behind the stench of their lies and abuse and corruption,

Sounds similar to a few other religions around the world.

[oo7]

why don"t these people try and change their own country,instead of looking for a pot of gold elsewhere.All people who come to another ilegal should just be locked up then kicked out.

[pisico]

Why bring Thaksin into this discussion? The previous military junta and its successor administration led by Mr. Abhisit didn't make an effort in this regard did they? The treatment of foreigners goes far beyond politics and is symptomatic of the nation as a whole. However, before one embarks on a blame the Thai people campaign, just remember that there are many Thais that do have compassion and do care about the plight of others. Who do you think staffs the refugee centers on the Burmese border? Who do you think staffs the animal care facilities? Who do you think has to pick up the drunk farangs in Pattaya?

Also, keep in mind that Thailand was invaded and laid waste to by the Burmese and who destroyed the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The war shaped the mindset of Thailand. It is a country that would make treaties and give up land to try and keep its sovereignty. Of course the Thais are going to be wary of foreigners. It continually had hostile countries on its borders. The Japanese occcupation was a humiliating experience that has been covered up ever since. Yes there is barbaric behaviour in respect to foreigners, however the Thais at least never set up death camps to exterminate people as did one European nation which staffed the death camps with a cross section of various Europeans who all seemed to take great delight in their chosen occupations. Thailand has never massacred non Thai ethnic groups with quite the fervor as one saw in Rwanda/Burundi or Bosnia/Serbia and Thailand never quite perfected the institution of slavery to quite the same level as European or American or Arab nations. So, please keep it inperspective.

Thais raided and ransacked Angkor Wat, a thriving city-state of 1 million when London was a 50,000 inhabitant city.

Such was the ferocity, massacre and devastation that the remaining Khmer people had to leave their city and move on to settlements along the banks of Tonle Sap lake. Ultimately, they went as far as they could from the Thais and settled their capital in nowadays Phnom Penh.

Did Thais do unto others what had been done unto them by the Burmese?

That should also be included in that perspective.

Thais apologists should also remember this.

Edited August 23, 2011 by metisdead
Removed deleted posts from reply.

[jonclark]

why don"t these people try and change their own country,instead of looking for a pot of gold elsewhere.All people who come to another ilegal should just be locked up then kicked out.

I assume your reference to 'these people' is directed at the people in the OP. If you have any suggestions as to how the Burmese could change their own country (as I'm fairly sure they would much rather live in Burma than in Thailand) without being lined up against the wall with the rest of their family and shot I'm sure the global community would be very interested in your ideas. As pretty much every international and local effort has fallen on the deaf ears of the Burmese Junta.

So - How do the Burmese change their own country - Over to you 007!

[hanuman2543]

I wonder what the Government would say if Thai people would get this kind of treatment in other countries. The hipocrisy of the Thai society is unbelievable. Migrant workers are treated more worse than animals and denied basic Human Rights, against all Thai Laws. The best they can do is going back and let the Thais doing the dirty work themselves.

[robertson468]

I would like to suggest therapy for all that pent-up anger...

The typical response of the Thai apologist.

I don't see any anger. As sad as it reads, what he says is actually very close to the mark. The only addition I'd make is they don't realise they're being so.

If he is a Thai apologist, then that makes two of us. I would suggest you take your blinkers off and look around the rest of the World and then you will realise that greed (ambition if you like) is endemic in the human race. That is why we are so successful as a breed. I see many positives in the Thai way of life. The strength in the family union, which has largely broken down in many developed Counties. The willingness to smile - okay it may not be genuine all the time, but it sure as hell beats the pants off the scowls and anti social behavior you get in many other Countries. There is a lot of corruption, but it is not unique to Thailand. Remember the scandal over the British MPs allowances? One gets the impression there are quite a few members of this forum who are not happy here, or are just not happy anywhere? Take a couple of more pills, get off your lazy backsides and go see the World and try to be social - there are a lot of nice people out there, if you are prepared to be nice to them. Go on spoil yourself!:jap:

[tink2mutt]

these Thai people do as they see fit, then go an make merit, wake up early and give food to a monk, visit a few temples, and all is forgiven and they continue their journey towards nirvana leaving behind the stench of their lies and abuse and corruption,

I don't think it has anything to do with making merit and all being forgiven.

The people involved in this dirty trade (Burmese and Thai by the way) are criminals and are actively involved in the dirty trade of human trafficing.

I doubt these type of people would be on any type of journey towards nirvana at all.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed.

[Bkkorupcountry]

Reading stories like this you feel such pity for the people being forced to live like this in the search for a better life, but even more pity for the Thai people that find this sort of treatment of their fellow man is acceptable and their arrogance that they are in some way superior.

Unfortunately the government, like all the past governments will respond will do <deleted> all.

Khon Thai Jai Dee .....not

Yes, it is really sad to read all these stories about underprivileged people from 3rd world countries being abused, denied their human rights etc. How nice it would be if Western Governments would open their doors to some of these people, instead of barring their access with such discriminatory practices as visas.

These actions are the actions of individuals, not of a nation. Governments are generally powerless to act other than according to the law.

As to Khon Thai Jai Dee not, I find usually that the better and kinder I treat people, the better and kinder they treat me in return. Maybe I don't get out enough.

[KKvampire]

We all know how Thai scammers cheat/lie to white western Falang , we can only imagine how much further they take it with poor migrants from neighbouring countries

[chuang]

[ My ex-wife is a prime example and I do not understand how she and others can hold up their head and be proud of themselves.

I too do not understand how she ended up as your wife....

[Suradit]

Reading stories like this you feel such pity for the people being forced to live like this in the search for a better life, but even more pity for the Thai people that find this sort of treatment of their fellow man is acceptable and their arrogance that they are in some way superior.

Unfortunately the government, like all the past governments will respond will do <deleted> all.

Khon Thai Jai Dee .....not

The situation is deplorable, but once again the ThaiVisa Thai bashers seem to take the view that Thailand is somehow unique in the world when it comes to such news. If you watch the nightly news or run any kind of Google search you'll find the exploitation of economic and political refugees worldwide is a growing problem only made worse with the current economic uncertainty but it's been going through good times and bad in the so-called developed world.

19 Asian cockle pickers die on UK beach

LONDON: Nineteen Asian shellfish gatherers died on Thursday night after being caught by a fast-rising tide on an English beach, prompting charges of exploited migrant labour.

The local member of parliament said the deaths in Morecambe Bay in Lancashire, northwest England, were a tragedy waiting to happen. "Those people that lost their lives last night were not just victims to Morecambe Bay, they were victims of exploitation," Geraldine Smith said.

"They were working probably for very, very little money, working in very dangerous and difficult conditions." The group of around 34 cockle gatherers were cut off from the shore late on Thursday. Police said 16 people, of oriental appearance and with little command of English, had been rescued and were being cared for.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-2-2004_pg7_6

More than 70 detainees seeking asylum in Australia escaped from an immigration detention center in the northern city of Darwin and held a protest outside the complex over conditions and treatment.

Police and staff are negotiating for the detainees to return inside, a spokesman from the Department of Immigration said without giving further details.

The escape came as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who wants to establish a regional center for asylum seekers, vied with opposition leader Tony Abbott to form a government. Abbott pledged to stop the number of asylum seekers arriving in Australia by boat and to open a center on the island of Nauru.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08-31/detained-australia-immigrants-break-from-complex-hold-protest.html

Immigrants among millions unlawfully detained

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced concern on Thursday that increasing numbers of immigrants and asylum-seekers are being put behind bars in rich countries.

Navanethem Pillay, a judge from South Africa, said they are among millions of people believed to be detained arbitrarily or unlawfully worldwide, with many held in inhumane conditions without facing charges.

Pillay singled out the European Union, warning that its new rules on illegal immigration may spur abuses such as excessively long periods of detention.

"We have a number of concerns with increasingly restrictive and often punitive approaches to migration in many developed countries of which the EU's recent return directive is one example," she told a news conference.

"The great majority of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers are not criminals and therefore should not be confined in detention centers like criminals," Pillay said.

Under the EU plan agreed last May, illegal immigrants to the 27-member bloc can be detained for up to 18 months before being sent home, and also face a five-year re-entry ban.

http://www.eatg.org/...wfully-detained

[Kilgore Trout]

Thailand has never massacred non Thai ethnic groups with quite the fervor as one saw in Rwanda/Burundi or Bosnia/Serbia and Thailand never quite perfected the institution of slavery to quite the same level as European or American or Arab nations.

Reminds me of that Chris Rock bit where he says how funny it is when people take credit (or give credit in this case)to people for things "they supposed" to do.

Like the father saying "I take care of my kids."

You supposed to do that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just like you are supposed to not massacre large groups of people for their ethnicity

Regarding the OP,there is no excuse for this type of behavior, whats worse are those that let it happen. Well if Buddhism is true, then I guess they will get what is coming to them in the next life.

[pmgthailand]

And people wonder why I left this godforsaken and morally bankrupt country!

Thailand makes me

[jonclark]

Reading stories like this you feel such pity for the people being forced to live like this in the search for a better life, but even more pity for the Thai people that find this sort of treatment of their fellow man is acceptable and their arrogance that they are in some way superior.

Unfortunately the government, like all the past governments will respond will do <deleted> all.

Khon Thai Jai Dee .....not

The situation is deplorable, but once again the ThaiVisa Thai bashers seem to take the view that Thailand is somehow unique in the world when it comes to such news. If you watch the nightly news or run any kind of Google search you'll find the exploitation of economic and political refugees worldwide is a growing problem only made worse with the current economic uncertainty but it's been going through good times and bad in the so-called developed world.

19 Asian cockle pickers die on UK beach

LONDON: Nineteen Asian shellfish gatherers died on Thursday night after being caught by a fast-rising tide on an English beach, prompting charges of exploited migrant labour.

The local member of parliament said the deaths in Morecambe Bay in Lancashire, northwest England, were a tragedy waiting to happen. "Those people that lost their lives last night were not just victims to Morecambe Bay, they were victims of exploitation," Geraldine Smith said.

"They were working probably for very, very little money, working in very dangerous and difficult conditions." The group of around 34 cockle gatherers were cut off from the shore late on Thursday. Police said 16 people, of oriental appearance and with little command of English, had been rescued and were being cared for.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-2-2004_pg7_6

So where are the Thai MP decrying the evil bast*rds* who bring these people into Thailand and exploit them, what is the Thai police doing to prevent this. Immigrants who try to make a better life for themselves are always the victims here, even when the authorities - who should help them get involved

Yes, illegal immigration happens in all countries, the difference between western and Asian countries (and this is a general not specific statement) is that at a national level governments set out national strategies to combat this type of trafficking and police are actively trying to prevention this type of exploitation.

If you read one of the follow ups to the above (morecomb bay ) story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/3827623.stm) you'll see that the British police now have solid leads as to who were the people behind the trafficking operation and that the police actually traveled to China to a) confirm the victims identity and to assist with the repatriation of the deceased. The actions of the British police in the Morecombe bay incident, when compare with the action or lack thereof of the Thai police are worlds apart. I'm fairly sure had the victims been Burmese and they died in Thailand, the response of the Thai police would have been entirely different.

The OP continues and states:

" Every time he tried to escape, the Thai police would catch him and return him to the boat" So the Thai police return an illegal immigrant, working illegally to continue working. Bit odd that, why do you think the police did that?

Probably because many influential people and police rather than seeking to prevent this type of exploitation they are actually complicit in it and see it as a nice little earner. Somehow i don't think the British police would return illegal immigrants to the gang bosses if the immigrants escaped - do you?

No country is going to have a 100% success rate preventing illegal immigration. But being an illegal doesn't decrease your worth as a human being and you should be guaranteed protection from exploitation and slavery. It is that lack of respect for human life and dignity which really pisses me off.

[BrianCR]

I would like to suggest therapy for all that pent-up anger...

The typical response of the Thai apologist.

I don't see any anger. As sad as it reads, what he says is actually very close to the mark. The only addition I'd make is they don't realise they're being so.

If he is a Thai apologist, then that makes two of us. I would suggest you take your blinkers off and look around the rest of the World and then you will realise that greed (ambition if you like) is endemic in the human race. That is why we are so successful as a breed. I see many positives in the Thai way of life. The strength in the family union, which has largely broken down in many developed Counties. The willingness to smile - okay it may not be genuine all the time, but it sure as hell beats the pants off the scowls and anti social behavior you get in many other Countries. There is a lot of corruption, but it is not unique to Thailand. Remember the scandal over the British MPs allowances? One gets the impression there are quite a few members of this forum who are not happy here, or are just not happy anywhere? Take a couple of more pills, get off your lazy backsides and go see the World and try to be social - there are a lot of nice people out there, if you are prepared to be nice to them. Go on spoil yourself!:jap:

Can I make that three of us? For what its worth I have lived in the land of smiles quite freely for 30 years and have found 90% of the population to be very friendly, helpful and by and large quite well educated. I have spent many enjoyable evenings drinking cheap beers, laughing and joking and having fun with Thai friends. I've also had my banana days, such as during the collapse of the Thai Baht when I lost practically everything, only to be helped time and time again by THAI friends. I remember years ago when all foreigners staying in the kingdom for more than 90 days had to pay tax at the tax department and get a clearance before leaving. Not feeling well I went to the front of a long queue, explained to the tax lady my predicament and, after she promptly dealt with me, slid her a five hundred baht note. She promptly returned it, smiled and informed me that not everyone was corrupt, feeling very guilty I accepted it back.

The time my car blew a tyre and many Thai people came to my aid and refused to accept a payment. The time I lost my wallet and was offered money to get me home. Unlike a lot of Thai visa readers I seem to have had more good times and memories than most - I wonder could it be where you live, where you seek entertainment and who you socialize with that could be the difference?

[BrianCR]

And people wonder why I left this godforsaken and morally bankrupt country!

Thailand makes me

Does that make Thailand a better place or you a better man?

[pmgthailand]

I too met many, nice friendly people in Thailand when I lived there (it also seemed to me the poorer they were the the nicer that they were) but it is the institutions, law enforcement, immigration and the people in power and influence that I found unpalatable. Thailand does really does have some very nice people and I like them but it is a crying shame that it is so corrupt and self serving. In many ways Thailand is a modern society, but in many ways it is still backwards and ignorant. I would like to see it change but I fear it never will! And this is why I chose not to live there anymore. I posted on another forum why I left Phuket and it ended up with people talking about the cost of beer, wines, cheese etc. Not really any of the important subjects

like this one.

Edited August 23, 2011 by pmgthailand

[BrianCR]

I too met many, nice friendly people in Thailand when I lived there (it also seemed to me the poorer they were the the nicer that they were) but it is the institutions, law enforcement, immigration and the people in power and influence that I found unpalatable. Thailand does really does have some very nice people and I like them but it is a crying shame that it is so corrupt and self serving. In many ways Thailand is a modern society, but in many ways it is still backwards and ignorant. I would like to see it change but I fear it never will! And this is why I chose not to live there anymore. I posted on another forum why I left Phuket and it ended up with people talking about the cost of beer, wines, cheese etc. Not really any of the important subjects

like this one.

If one chooses ones friends and business partners carefully you will not experience the pitfalls of many. many times it is the Westerner at fault in not trying to understand the country or it's people and by trying to assert so called Western values. Put your hands up those of you who would marry a prostitute whilst in their own Country? Now put your hands up those of you who did it here! Her fault, the countries or yours?

[KunMatt]

19 Asian cockle pickers die on UK beach

More than 70 detainees seeking asylum in Australia escaped from an immigration detention center in the northern city of Darwin and held a protest outside the complex over conditions and treatment.

I don't really see how you are trying to relate these stories to this topic.

The Whitby Bay incident, or at least from the little I know about it, was illegal Asian immigrants illegally shipping Asians into the UK to illegally work on a dangerous jobsite with zero safety regulations. No surprise anything went wrong but if you are trying to say that the UK or Europe is in the same situation as this topic and they can be painted with the same brush as Thailand because of this then I do not agree.

And I applaud Australia for how it tackles immigration, I really wish that the UK had adopted the same tougher stance 20 years ago. People try to illegally gain access to Australia on a rickety boat overloaded with people and when it sinks they blame Australia. Or they complain they have to go to a detention camp on Christmas Island while their application is being processed instead of just being let into the country with a new house and a stack of social welfare while they sit around jobless with their 7 kids, only to abscond if their asylum application is rejected like the UK would be happy to do.

Reminds me of that Chris Rock bit where he says how funny it is when people take credit (or give credit in this case)to people for things "they supposed" to do.

"I've never been to jail "

"You're not supposed to go to jail you low expectation-having MF!!"

Chris Rock always hits the nail on the head.

"Hey, I heard you got robbed!".

[Ijustwannateach]

If one wants to bring in the last (long ago) 'invasion' of Thailand by the Burmese, one should point out that:

1. There was a long history of wars and incursions in both directions,

2. The Burmese themselves are pretty much over that whole period of conflict now (including, for example, the previous invasion by what wasn't even at that time Thailand into their territory), and

3. That last 'invasion' basically was facilitated by the invitation of one of the losing (i.e., not first in line for the throne) brothers of the new Ayutthayan monarch who had just succeeded.

Any abuse of Burmese by Thais is solely a sign of personal lousiness, inhumanity, and indecency. There is no historical excuse for it whatsoever.

[pmgthailand]

Neither really, just a statement. This is a forum isn't it?

And people wonder why I left this godforsaken and morally bankrupt country!

Thailand makes me

Does that make Thailand a better place or you a better man?

[OmarZaid]

Hello. These injustices exists everywhere to varying degrees, and some folk are worse than others at being perpetrators or victims. My own experience with Thais has been mixed and it very much depends on motive, who and where you areas to what happens. I noticed that the more knowledge I gained the better my experiences became and remained. Not that I fail to commiserate with the oppressed, but the reasons they are so do not depend on either myself or any Thai person i happen to know personally. This indicates the existence of certain spheres of influence that are removed, remote and even in another metaphysical realm, so to speak of cause and effect.

I recently spent a lovely week in Cha Am, a little fishing village and saw an awful lot of smiling non-thai fishermen, crowded onto boats, waving and jocular as can be. Not that I'm "in the know" but what I witnessed doesn't seen to fit the stories above, thank God for that. If this is so, then some other stories I've heard of Thais actually helping folk from Myanmar and defending them need an airing also.

The problem is that things are globally becoming more desperate, and that brings out both the best and worst of all of us, especially when push comes to shove. Most folk prefer to be pushers when the rice bowl empties. That's just the way of it, as one of my son's likes to say. It's also the way of most governments, unfortunately; so there's an element of truth to the profiteering allegation mentioned above. Anyway, 'nough said. All the best, Omar

[unanimosity]

Reading stories like this you feel such pity for the people being forced to live like this in the search for a better life, but even more pity for the Thai people that find this sort of treatment of their fellow man is acceptable and their arrogance that they are in some way superior.

Unfortunately the government, like all the past governments will respond will do <deleted> all.

Khon Thai Jai Dee .....not

The situation is deplorable, but once again the ThaiVisa Thai bashers seem to take the view that Thailand is somehow unique in the world when it comes to such news. If you watch the nightly news or run any kind of Google search you'll find the exploitation of economic and political refugees worldwide is a growing problem only made worse with the current economic uncertainty but it's been going through good times and bad in the so-called developed world.

19 Asian cockle pickers die on UK beach

LONDON: Nineteen Asian shellfish gatherers died on Thursday night after being caught by a fast-rising tide on an English beach, prompting charges of exploited migrant labour.

The local member of parliament said the deaths in Morecambe Bay in Lancashire, northwest England, were a tragedy waiting to happen. "Those people that lost their lives last night were not just victims to Morecambe Bay, they were victims of exploitation," Geraldine Smith said.

"They were working probably for very, very little money, working in very dangerous and difficult conditions." The group of around 34 cockle gatherers were cut off from the shore late on Thursday. Police said 16 people, of oriental appearance and with little command of English, had been rescued and were being cared for.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_7-2-2004_pg7_6

So where are the Thai MP decrying the evil bast*rds* who bring these people into Thailand and exploit them, what is the Thai police doing to prevent this. Immigrants who try to make a better life for themselves are always the victims here, even when the authorities - who should help them get involved

Yes, illegal immigration happens in all countries, the difference between western and Asian countries (and this is a general not specific statement) is that at a national level governments set out national strategies to combat this type of trafficking and police are actively trying to prevention this type of exploitation.

If you read one of the follow ups to the above (morecomb bay ) story (http://news.bbc.co.u...ire/3827623.stm) you'll see that the British police now have solid leads as to who were the people behind the trafficking operation and that the police actually traveled to China to a) confirm the victims identity and to assist with the repatriation of the deceased. The actions of the British police in the Morecombe bay incident, when compare with the action or lack thereof of the Thai police are worlds apart. I'm fairly sure had the victims been Burmese and they died in Thailand, the response of the Thai police would have been entirely different.

The OP continues and states:

" Every time he tried to escape, the Thai police would catch him and return him to the boat" So the Thai police return an illegal immigrant, working illegally to continue working. Bit odd that, why do you think the police did that?

Probably because many influential people and police rather than seeking to prevent this type of exploitation they are actually complicit in it and see it as a nice little earner. Somehow i don't think the British police would return illegal immigrants to the gang bosses if the immigrants escaped - do you?

No country is going to have a 100% success rate preventing illegal immigration. But being an illegal doesn't decrease your worth as a human being and you should be guaranteed protection from exploitation and slavery. It is that lack of respect for human life and dignity which really pisses me off.

Didn't know it was possible to immigrate illegally to Britain. Looks like a completely open door to replace all the exiting Brits with whoever shows up.

[RedNIvar]

Just because you have been prayed upon and taken advantage of by others, does not give you the right to do the same to people from any other country. If anything you should have learnt from your your experience and shown some compassion to your fellow man. Unfortunately the lessons most Thai's learn from all of this is that if you are in a situation of power, it is your right to take advantage of those who are not. What is even worse is this is not a Thai only problem, most third world countries do the same. It is sad a situation indeed. What every person long to do is care for their family.