Thailand Eyes UN Human Rights Council Seat with Optimism

[webfact]

Human-trafficking cases revealed
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, Pol Maj-General Chawalit Sawaengphuet, yesterday presented two recent arrests, including a suspect who lured a Thai woman into forced prostitution in South Africa.

In the first case, 21-year-old transvestite Marak Lakoti was arrested at a Chatuchak shopping mall in Bangkok for allegedly conspiring with at least four others to lure a 36-year-old Chon Buri restaurant cashier into prostitution with the promise of a well-paid Thai massage job in South Africa.

The woman was detained in a Johannesburg hotel basement and forced to prostitute herself until she escaped and got help from Thai compatriots.

The woman was later sold to another sex trafficking group, until she escaped again and this time called for help from police, which lead to her being deported. She later filed a police complaint over her ordeal.

Although Marak maintained his innocence, police inquiries found that this gang had at least four people in both Thailand and South Africa, while the victim claimed another 10 Thai women were detained in the basement by this gang, Chawalit said.

In the second case, Wilai Toyabutr, 58, a former employee of a job agency, was arrested in Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal for allegedly luring a Myanmar man to work in the fish industry in Samut Sakhon.

But the man found himself forced to work on a fishing boat for 4-5 months until he escaped. He claimed he found the man a job but didn't know it was forced labour.

Chawalit urged members of the public to alert the authorities via hotline 119 if they spot cases of suspected human trafficking.


-- The Nation 2013-05-01

[theblether]

Despicable......enslaving people is inhuman, the punishment for this crime must be severe.

[Locationthailand]

Anyone who traffics other people should be given life sentences IMO.

[winstonc]

me feels a life sentence is somewhat leniant,maybe traffic them to feel the pain i say,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Andre0720]

''lure a 36-year-old Chon Buri restaurant cashier into prostitution with the promise of a well-paid Thai massage job in South Africa.''

I do not feel so bad now that I know that even thai people trust thai people....

[Sing_Sling]

So she escaped one prostitution ring to end up being sold into another one?

[upena]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

[Andre0720]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

Not the same at all...

''The woman was detained in a Johannesburg hotel basement and forced to prostitute herself until she escaped and got help from Thai compatriots.''

In Thailand, if you are at least 21, and choose prostitution, it becomes your own choice...

Edited May 1, 2013 by Andre0720

[Sing_Sling]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

Not the same at all...

''The woman was detained in a Johannesburg hotel basement and forced to prostitute herself until she escaped and got help from Thai compatriots.''

In Thailand, if you are over 21, and choose prostitution, it becomes your own choice...

She escaped, got help from Thai compatriots and ended up being sold into another prostitution ring? Still sounds odd . . . and in Thailand, I believe, prostitution is illegal

[cup-O-coffee]

What is slavery? Better yet; even if there were a decent definition, there is absolutely no way to stem the flow of humanity that is being produced to supplement this industry resource, whether deceived or willing or a little of both. Human trafficking is the new resource of the new millenium. It is driven by desperation and greed on both sides of the coin; to include parents, families and communities who engage in this. And for what? Money!

Attempting to split hairs over this issue can only be relegated to the extreme cases. All others are a waste of time and resources. I hate to say it, but getting angry at my view does not dismiss these legitimate problems facing government; and slightly uncorrupt government at the very best.

This is an evil mark on the face of mankind that will only augment as the human population increases and resources critical to our ability to retain life in our body dwindles.

There are plenty of humans who would not mind being sex workers and any other kind of worker if it would mean getting money back home to the family. Fighting the ones who do this sort of thing is wrong, and instead this industry should be recognized as a part of our human nature that exists in all of us to some varying degree. These people cannot get the kind of jobs that you and I can get. Their employment hopes are much thinner than yours and mine; but that does not exclude the fact that they need to survive and so do their families. Improving the living conditions and health of these "victims" would be far better for all and perhaps decrease deception and hostility.

There is some logic herein, and fighting the inevitable is fruitless if one refuses to think outside the box and consider viewing the problem as a possible solution with just a little tweaking.

[winstonc]

totally agree,having large families doesnt help atall,contraception,sex education, just two things but its whats needed here,actually everwhere,being unemployed having children,wheres the money come from to feed them,loan sharks,or the usual selling your mutton,easy perhaps but risky,hiv ,on its way,,,

[DRONGOH]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

What prostitution in Thai?

It's illegal.

Just ask the BIB!!

[WhizBang]

me feels a life sentence is somewhat leniant,maybe traffic them to feel the pain i say,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

My feelings exactly.

[atyclb]

It is pure coincidence the police bust those involved in crimes that they(police) are not making any money from?

Edited May 1, 2013 by atyclb

[rubberduck]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

How can you compare Thai prostitutes with victims of human traficking ????? Has nothing to do with eachother really, it's even an insult for the victims of traficking to compare their poor situatons with the moneycrazy lowlife hookers/cheaters/thieves/sexaddicts/bababobos.

[hellodolly]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

Not the same at all...

''The woman was detained in a Johannesburg hotel basement and forced to prostitute herself until she escaped and got help from Thai compatriots.''

In Thailand, if you are at least 21, an

>What is slavery? Better yet; even if there were a decent definition, there is absolutely no way to stem the flow of humanity that is being produced to supplement this industry resource, whether deceived or willing or a little of both. Human trafficking is the new resource of the new millenium. It is driven by desperation and greed on both sides of the coin; to include parents, families and communities who engage in this. And for what? Money!

Attempting to split hairs over this issue can only be relegated to the extreme cases. All others are a waste of time and resources. I hate to say it, but getting angry at my view does not dismiss these legitimate problems facing government; and slightly uncorrupt government at the very best.

This is an evil mark on the face of mankind that will only augment as the human population increases and resources critical to our ability to retain life in our body dwindles.

There are plenty of humans who would not mind being sex workers and any other kind of worker if it would mean getting money back home to the family. Fighting the ones who do this sort of thing is wrong, and instead this industry should be recognized as a part of our human nature that exists in all of us to some varying degree. These people cannot get the kind of jobs that you and I can get. Their employment hopes are much thinner than yours and mine; but that does not exclude the fact that they need to survive and so do their families. Improving the living conditions and health of these "victims" would be far better for all and perhaps decrease deception and hostility.

There is some logic herein, and fighting the inevitable is fruitless if one refuses to think outside the box and consider viewing the problem as a possible solution with just a little tweaking.

The women already had a job. She was not destitute just greedy.

Yes there are women who do not have any other means of support. That is a different story.

d choose prostitution, it becomes your own choice...

[vijer]

Anyone who traffics other people should be given life sentences IMO.

In very very very tiny cells, like so small you cannot lay down to sleep, and be fed twice a day the meagerest of rations.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[PoodMaiDai]

Anyone who traffics other people should be given life sentences IMO.

In the worst prison, in the very worst conditions possible. They should in fact create new hellish prison just for human traffickers.

[candypants]

So she escaped one prostitution ring to end up being sold into another one?

worse, she escaped to thai compatriots who sold her once again.

A classic example of thai rak thai

[candypants]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

How can you compare Thai prostitutes with victims of human traficking ????? Has nothing to do with eachother really, it's even an insult for the victims of traficking to compare their poor situatons with the moneycrazy lowlife hookers/cheaters/thieves/sexaddicts/bababobos.

bababobos?

really?

[Joe Mamma]

Friend of the family got involved with an African national. I was able to research the scoundrel and alert the immigration authorities of his illegal status and the scam of 2 other Thai ladies too. He had to leave behind all his property as he left without even saying goodbye.

[Sing_Sling]

Friend of the family got involved with an African national. I was able to research the scoundrel and alert the immigration authorities of his illegal status and the scam of 2 other Thai ladies too. He had to leave behind all his property as he left without even saying goodbye.

You're a legend, Joe

[Baerboxer]

There was a similar case of Thai's being focred into prostitution in Bahrain earlier. There are legitimate Thai massage spas in many countries, but there are also many non-legtimate ones fronting for brothels operated by gangs.

China, Eastern Europe,Africa and Cental / SE Asia all seem to have gangs doing this. Shows just how ineffictive law enforcement really is despite rhetoric from the UN which as usual achieves zilch.

There does seem a massive difference between the poor souls trapped into this and the ladies who choose to work as "escorts" or in more regulated sex industries like in Holland.

Trafficking is about slave labour, and not just for the sex industry. Fishing, mining, agriculture, sweat shop manufacturing, bonded labour etc. Globalization seems to present more opportunities for criminals to get richer.

[HerbalEd]

What about all the Thai prostitutes in Thailand? This is all just a show after the latest US Human Rights report came out last week slamming Thailand.

I have read of many such arrests way before last week. I'm ever amazed at all the experts on TV with their pet theories.

[Skywalker69]

Anyone who traffics other people should be given life sentences IMO.

100% agreed.