No Choice But To Investigate People Smuggling: Thai Editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

No choice but to investigate people smuggling

The Nation

Once again Thai officials are under the spotlight, accused of complicity in trafficking Rohingya boat people; it's time to bring the guilty to book

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government must vigorously investigate allegations that Thai officials are involved in smuggling Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to third countries.

The BBC has also reported that Thai officials have allegedly been selling Rohingya boat people to human traffickers. The BBC report said, "Thousands of Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar's far west have taken to the sea in the last few months, heading east to Thailand. The BBC found that boats from Rakhine State were being intercepted by the Thai navy and police, with deals then being done to sell the people to traffickers."

These allegations are serious indeed. They cannot be ignored because the credibility of the Thai authorities is at stake here.

First of all, any people - officials or not - who are involved in human trafficking must be arrested and face criminal charges. At the very least, an investigation must be launched and action taken to eliminate trafficking rings. If the allegations of officials being involved is proved groundless, the result of the probe will restore the reputations of any accused parties.

Without concrete action to tackle this issue once and for all, Thai officials are likely to face continued allegations about smuggling of Rohingya people into Thailand and onward to other countries, because more Rohingya refugees are almost certain to enter the country.

The fresh allegation has received much international attention because it also reflects the unresolved conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Ethnic violence there over the past few months has resulted in waves of illegal Rohingya migrants crossing the border to Thailand in an attempt to get to third countries. The United Nations estimates that about 13,000 boat people, including many Rohingya, fled Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh in 2012, a sharp increase from 7,000 a year earlier. It is estimated that there are around 800,000 Rohingya in Myanmar, but the government considers them illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and thus many try to flee persecution to third countries via Thailand.

Thailand has been criticised by rights groups for being a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking due to its long shared borders with countries that have seen internal conflict.

Already, tens of thousands of Rohingya migrants have landed in Thailand. The clashes in Rakhine last autumn resulted in a new flood of desperate migrants.

It is reported that the trafficking network involves local officials. Some of the illegal migrants want to go to Malaysia or Indonesia. But some of them end up as illegal workers or are forced into begging on the street in Thailand. Others become involved in crime.

International organisations and other countries must find ways to help Thailand settle the Rohingya in third countries, and must also put pressure on Myanmar and Bangladesh to settle the issue of the stateless Rohingya once and for all.

The Thai authorities cannot effectively address this trafficking problem alone, for various reasons. The long border makes it difficult for Thai authorities to monitor entry and egress. In addition, it is undoubtedly true that some officials and law-enforcement officers are corrupt and facilitate the smuggling of the migrants through Thailand.

The alleged smuggling has damaged Thailand's reputation once again, and could affect trade and investment opportunities, especially now that it is on the watch-list of the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report for failing to eliminate human trafficking.

Thai authorities have no other option except to seriously address these allegations. Some illegal economic migrants will have to be deported. At the same time the authorities have to provide temporary shelter and humanitarian assistance for Rohingya people, whose lives may be in peril if they're deported before being transferred to third countries. The UNHCR and other international organisations must also help Thailand find a solution regarding the detained migrants. The issue requires a sincere effort from all sides. Otherwise the problem will not go away.

-- The Nation 2013-01-23

[rookball]

whats with that? if given a choice, they rather ignore these human trafficking, is that what they are saying

[noitom]

whats with that? if given a choice, they rather ignore these human trafficking, is that what they are saying

Exactly! The gist of the editorial is to "excuse away" Thai malfeasance and corruption of police and armed forces rather than bear down on the army and police with professional investigative journalism. Advocating that Thai authorities should investigate is tantamount to putting a fox in the chicken coup. In fact that's what Thailand is all abou. Putting a fox in the chicken coup.

[thomash]

Well once again this should help Thailand with the Muslime issue in the deep south!

[dcutman]

because the credibility of the Thai authorities is at stake here. . Another coffee stained shirt.

[Pimay1]

because the credibility of the Thai authorities is at stake here. . Another coffee stained shirt.

As if they had any credibility at all.

[Locationthailand]

If "tens of thousands have landed" already does this mean they were all sold? Thailand is in deep yoghurt over this and some heads need to seriously roll.

[bigbamboo]

No choice?

The DSI is very busy just now.

Perhaps later.

[fareastguy]

Thailand will do what Thailand does best.. in the face of international pressure it will appear to cooperate & hold an investigation, of course it will find nothing wrong and therefore nobody accountable.. business as usual will continue !!

As for putting a fox in the chicken coup for the world to witness is fine, but what the world doesn't see is that it's teeth have been pulled prior to being let loose !!

[Thai at Heart]

Love the feeling of contrition.

Thousands of people know that this has been going on, but only because the bbc broke the story, now we have to do something.

It is so typical. The crime didn't exist until someone got caught.

[angsta]

They insinuate that the problem is the people that were smuggled and not the fact that the Thai army were the ones doing the smuggling.

I've said it before and i'll say it again. The Nation is an embarrassment to the newspaper industry. I see more balance from Fox News. Ok well maybe not Fox news but you get what i'm saying.

[EyesWideOpen]

dam_n that BBC for poking around in Thai business !!!!!

[Thai at Heart]

We are so sorry.

That we got caught.

[NongKhaiKid]

whats with that? if given a choice, they rather ignore these human trafficking, is that what they are saying

There may be "no choice" but if there's a way around it we can be sure the authorities will find it and not worry too much how flimsy the excuse is

[LeeThayer]

Thailand, the hub of human trafficking.

[jocko]

No boubt the official s at the head of this are already mega rich but what the hell let them make more money

They don't give a toss ,what is needed is independent overseer to moniter these poor people but there is no chance of that happening.

Shame on them

[how241]

Love the feeling of contrition.

Thousands of people know that this has been going on, but only because the bbc broke the story, now we have to do something.

It is so typical. The crime didn't exist until someone got caught.

+1

[Credo]

Any investigation will be cursory at best. The traffickers aren't going to talk; the military isn't going to talk and the Rohingya's don't dare talk. As a matter of fact, the only people with factual knowledge, the Rohingya's, will be long gone in the near future. So there will be nothing to investigate and no crime was ever committed.

[rubl]

No choice but to investigate people smuggling

Once again Thai officials are under the spotlight, accused of complicity in trafficking Rohingya boat people; it's time to bring the guilty to book

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government must vigorously investigate allegations that Thai officials are involved in smuggling Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to third countries.

No choice but to be seen initiating an investigation till the heat is off and those pesky foreigners are distracted by something elsewhere

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

Fact remains that everyone's talking ASEAN and the government snuggles up to neighbouring governments and its all love and peace, but Myanmar should be put on notice to stop exporting their internal problems. Perhaps block their entry to ASEAN until they fix this issue.

If they need help solving this problem, they should call in the NGOs etc. and get them to help find solutions for these people.

But they seem happy to continue suppressing these folk so that they bugger off somewhere else. And not to Bangladesh where they should be going (that being a Muslim country and their original source country), but South where the economies are better. Which is all logical, but since they're poorly educated Muslims they don't integrate in non-Muslim societies and its time that is also recognised; so that Muslim countries can be called upon to provide homes for these people until enough pressure can be brought to bear onto Myanmar to deal with the issue properly.

Housing them in Thailand or other non-Muslim countries will only create issues down the track. However ultimately it remains a problem of the Myanmar government, and they won't do anything to resolve it unless sufficient pressure is applied.

[rbrooks]

These allegations are serious indeed. They cannot be ignored because the credibility of the Thai authorities is at stake here. I guess the welfare of the Rohingya people is secondary to the incredibly, corrupt credibility of the Thai authorities. Amazing Thailand looks like you care more about your image than the welfare of a displaced race. Looks like Thailand is also always eager to pawn off their problems on other countries as quoted in this incredible article from the Nation,International organisations and other countries must find ways to help Thailand settle the Rohingya in third countries, and must also put pressure on Myanmar and Bangladesh to settle the issue of the stateless Rohingya once and for all.

[hellodolly]

whats with that? if given a choice, they rather ignore these human trafficking, is that what they are saying

That crossed my mind as soon as I read this part

"BANGKOK: -- The Thai government must vigorously investigate allegations that Thai officials are involved in smuggling Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to third countries."

I kind of thought they should vigorously investigate it even if Thai officials were not involved,

[Baerboxer]

No choice but to investigate people smuggling

Once again Thai officials are under the spotlight, accused of complicity in trafficking Rohingya boat people; it's time to bring the guilty to book

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government must vigorously investigate allegations that Thai officials are involved in smuggling Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to third countries.

No choice but to be seen initiating an investigation till the heat is off and those pesky foreigners are distracted by something elsewhere

Yes - a panel will be convened to intiate discussions on selecting a panel to formulate an investigation. This will take several years, so the investigation should be able to commence arround 2017 ish. Of course, this could be delayed if the panel members need to be changed at anytime, or an appropriate investigation organization hard to identify.

[Baerboxer]

These allegations are serious indeed. They cannot be ignored because the credibility of the Thai authorities is at stake here. I guess the welfare of the Rohingya people is secondary to the incredibly, corrupt credibility of the Thai authorities. Amazing Thailand looks like you care more about your image than the welfare of a displaced race. Looks like Thailand is also always eager to pawn off their problems on other countries as quoted in this incredible article from the Nation,International organisations and other countries must find ways to help Thailand settle the Rohingya in third countries, and must also put pressure on Myanmar and Bangladesh to settle the issue of the stateless Rohingya once and for all.

I wish you were right - and that they couldn't be ignored. Thailand doesn't care about credibility - it cares about face saving, image and continuity. Reality doesn't come into it. A face-saving damage limitation exercise will be carried out - all sorts of promises and explanations. Then back to normal. Sounds cynical but really, things don't change here.