Thailand upset by human trafficking Watch List

[webfact]

Thailand upset by human trafficking Watch List
By English News



BANGKOK, June 28 – Thailand will regularly report to the United States on the progress of its efforts to solve human trafficking in an attempt to be removed from Tier 2 Watch List, according to a senior foreign ministry official.

Sek Wannamethee, director general of the America and South Pacific Department, said the US recently released its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report which placed Thailand on the Tier 2 Watch List for the fourth consecutive year.

The US granted Thailand a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Mr Sek said he has discussed with related agencies including the Courts of Justice on the possibility of speeding up trials of human trafficking cases.

Thailand will update the TIP on development of the country’s trafficking solutions in November this year and January next year while a TIP delegation will visit the kingdom in August – an opportunity for Thailand to thoroughly explain the issue.

"We hope that Thailand will be lifted from the unfavourable list next year," Mr Sek said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-06-28

[clockman]

Never admit anything, always image or somebody else is at fault!

[Thai at Heart]

Amazing, they have achieved absolutely nothing tangible, and they want to be upgraded.

"We made a plan" after 3 years of being asked, and that is supposedly enough to get you upgraded? What planet are these numpties living on? Just wait until the plan fails to be implemented, and they get downgraded and agribusiness exports get blocked.

Now that will really get their attention.

[tomross46]

I find it very interesting how the USA can talk about Human trafficking, with millions of humans being trafficked into the USA every year. There is no mention about the forced prostituting of young girls, the slave labor on farms in Hawaii, the slave labor of Vietnamese being used in American Samoa.

People in glass houses should not throw stones.

[webfact]

Thailand remains on watch list for human trafficking

BANGKOK, 28 June 2013 (NNT) – Thailand remains on the watch list of the US on human trafficking for the fourth time in as many years. According to The Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), Asian countries, including Thailand, are homes to some of the worst illegal human traffickers.

Thailand is once again placed on the Tier 2 Watch list for its lack of compliance with human trafficking laws. It is the fourth consecutive year that Thailand has been placed on this list. According to Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs Sek Wannamethee, the US is still concerned over Thailand’s measures in dealing with the human trafficking problems and the slow process in bringing those traffickers to justice; considering the number of those arrested and found guilty of such crime is very small compared to the number of cases pending in court.

The director said he had discussed the matter with the Office of the Judiciary, requesting that it speed up the trial process in human trafficking cases, given that Thailand would have to submit to the US a report of its achievement in tackling human trafficking in November and January of next year. He also disclosed that a US official would pay him a visit in August to discuss the issue.

The director has also instructed all human-trafficking related agencies to keep their eyes open, especially after the establishment of Asean Community, during which the number of human trafficking cases will likely increase and the crime will be committed much easier.


-- NNT 2013-06-28

[Lancelot]

I am an American but I find my government's ongoing Human Rights, Human Trafficking, etc., etc., a bit tiresome. We have a few things in the US that we need to resolve before we lecture others. Far more persuasive to lead by example.

[Thai at Heart]

I am an American but I find my government's ongoing Human Rights, Human Trafficking, etc., etc., a bit tiresome. We have a few things in the US that we need to resolve before we lecture others. Far more persuasive to lead by example.

This is tied to trade. If you want to sell product to the USA, make sure that that given industry doesn't use illegal or forced labour. I don't think that is an unfair request do you?

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/labor-trafficking-in-the-us/agriculture-a-farms

Statistics Snapshot

Since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, numerous cases of slavery have emerged in agriculture. In the state of Florida alone, the Department of Justice has prosecuted 7 labor trafficking cases, assisting over 1,000 victims. Most recently, on September 2, 2010, the Department of Justice issued an indictment alleging that Global Horizons, a labor recruiting company, recruited over 400 Thai workers and forced them to work in agriculture in at least 13 states by ensuring the workers accrued a substantial debt, confiscating their passports and visas, and deporting workers that didn’t cooperate with the company’s demands.

Ironically, the largest prosecution to take place in the last few years was this company recruiting Thai's to work under illegal conditions.

[simple1]

Amazing, they have achieved absolutely nothing tangible, and they want to be upgraded.

"We made a plan" after 3 years of being asked, and that is supposedly enough to get you upgraded? What planet are these numpties living on? Just wait until the plan fails to be implemented, and they get downgraded and agribusiness exports get blocked.

Now that will really get their attention.

Tier 3 status does not include trade sanctions

[pisico]

Amazing, they have achieved absolutely nothing tangible, and they want to be upgraded.

"We made a plan" after 3 years of being asked, and that is supposedly enough to get you upgraded? What planet are these numpties living on? Just wait until the plan fails to be implemented, and they get downgraded and agribusiness exports get blocked.

Now that will really get their attention.

Tsk, tsk, tsk !! Farang cannot understand Thainess.

[Lancelot]

I am an American but I find my government's ongoing Human Rights, Human Trafficking, etc., etc., a bit tiresome. We have a few things in the US that we need to resolve before we lecture others. Far more persuasive to lead by example.

This is tied to trade. If you want to sell product to the USA, make sure that that given industry doesn't use illegal or forced labour. I don't think that is an unfair request do you?

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/labor-trafficking-in-the-us/agriculture-a-farms

I understand your position. I personally favor more libertarian solutions. A free press to inform the citizenry and a public that demonstrates its committment to Human Rights and boycots products produced by slave labor.

Again, better to lead/influence by example.

[arthurboy]

At last, the Nation has reported on this issue.

The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2013 is here: http://www.state.gov.../2013/index.htm

It makes for sobering reading.

The case of the little Karen girl is highlighted as is the horrendously insensitive treatment of her by the so-called authorities.

...in one severe case, in which a female child belonging to an ethnic minority was kidnapped, abused, and enslaved over the course of fve years, a judge’s misguided decision to grant bail allowed the suspected offenders to fee and escape prosecution.

and later.

'The government did not ensure that child victims’ rights were protected; in a highly-publicized case of a 12-year-old Karen girl who had been enslaved in a Thai couple’s home for five years, police offcials allowed media outlets to publish the girl’s name and take semi-nude photos of her while in police custody.'

Needless to say,and in general, the report states, 'In addition to the well known corruption of local-level police officers, there were also protective relationships between central-level specialist police offcers and the trafficking hot-spot regions to which they were assigned. Thai police offcers and immigration offcials reportedly extorted money or sex from Burmese citizens detained in Thailand for immigration and sold Burmese migrants unable to pay labor brokers and sex traffickers.'

The report is also very critical of the government's poor record on arrest and conviction.

Overall, Thailand has been placed on Tier 2, but will be automatically downgraded to Tier 3 next year if things do not tangibly improve.

[worgeordie]

On this same Thailand news stories, 2 stories down, you have

Thai, Singaporean accused of procuring woman, so its a lot

more common occurrence that the Government of Thailand

would ever admit or even acknowledge ,theres most likely

more slaves in the World today than ever.

regards Worgeordie

[Thai at Heart]

Amazing, they have achieved absolutely nothing tangible, and they want to be upgraded.

"We made a plan" after 3 years of being asked, and that is supposedly enough to get you upgraded? What planet are these numpties living on? Just wait until the plan fails to be implemented, and they get downgraded and agribusiness exports get blocked.

Now that will really get their attention.

Tier 3 status does not include trade sanctions

Level 4 does though. They only didn't drop onto level 4 because of their wonderful written plan.

[BrianCR]

At last, the Nation has reported on this issue.

The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2013 is here: http://www.state.gov.../2013/index.htm

It makes for sobering reading.

The case of the little Karen girl is highlighted as is the horrendously insensitive treatment of her by the so-called authorities.

...in one severe case, in which a female child belonging to an ethnic minority was kidnapped, abused, and enslaved over the course of fve years, a judge’s misguided decision to grant bail allowed the suspected offenders to fee and escape prosecution.

and later.

'The government did not ensure that child victims’ rights were protected; in a highly-publicized case of a 12-year-old Karen girl who had been enslaved in a Thai couple’s home for five years, police offcials allowed media outlets to publish the girl’s name and take semi-nude photos of her while in police custody.'

Needless to say,and in general, the report states, 'In addition to the well known corruption of local-level police officers, there were also protective relationships between central-level specialist police offcers and the trafficking hot-spot regions to which they were assigned. Thai police offcers and immigration offcials reportedly extorted money or sex from Burmese citizens detained in Thailand for immigration and sold Burmese migrants unable to pay labor brokers and sex traffickers.'

The report is also very critical of the government's poor record on arrest and conviction.

Overall, Thailand has been placed on Tier 2, but will be automatically downgraded to Tier 3 next year if things do not tangibly improve.

I agree with your posting however, it is just the tip of the iceberg - hundreds of thousands of people are being trafficked in the most hideous of ways especially, the Burmese who are brought into Thailand illegally by officials and big business and treated like virtual slaves on fishing boats and in the processing of seafood. Nothing is done with regard to this in order to protect the mega bucks earned from the industry. One Japanese or Singaporean takes a Thai prostitute to their own country to carryout her profession and only after she gets caught (and of course complains that she thought she was going to be managing director of a large company)is the foreigner arrested and met with large media headlines and stiff sentencing.

Thousands of Thais' are trafficking people daily both for sex and for work and yet nothing is ever done, except to devise a "cunning plan" which is never implemented! Thailand has been placed on Tier 2 by the west, in my humble opinion it should be scrutinized on a daily basis!!!

[lovetotravel]

I am an American but I find my government's ongoing Human Rights, Human Trafficking, etc., etc., a bit tiresome. We have a few things in the US that we need to resolve before we lecture others. Far more persuasive to lead by example.

This is tied to trade. If you want to sell product to the USA, make sure that that given industry doesn't use illegal or forced labour. I don't think that is an unfair request do you?

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/labor-trafficking-in-the-us/agriculture-a-farms

I understand your position. I personally favor more libertarian solutions. A free press to inform the citizenry and a public that demonstrates its committment to Human Rights and boycots products produced by slave labor.

Again, better to lead/influence by example.

I think the US is doing a pretty good job with regards to this. No country is perfect, but the US is way better than any country here in Asia. So, in effect, they are leading by example.

It's rare to hear of true forced labor. Yes, it happens here and there, but nothing like here. The fishing industry is a disgrace here. Supported by corrupt government officials.

[phetaroi]

Whether it's human trafficking or copyright infringement or ______________, Thais spend all their energy fretting about being on such lists, and almost no energy actually cleaning up their dirty laundry.

[Katipo]

You think they'd be more upset about the trafficking than about being on the list.

[chooka]

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

[craigt3365]

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

The UN is pretty ineffective at things like this. Just look at the trials that have going on for YEARS over in Cambodia. Run by the UN. At least the US has a big stick that can be applied. Trade.

[simple1]

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

The program is run and monitored by the US State Department, who have the political muscle to influence the likes of the IMF and World Bank to impose financial restrictions on aid programs/loans etc on non compliant countries; the UN does not. In addition the US can withhold or withdraw nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance, thereby applying pressure. The UN is very limited in it's options with Thailand as Thailand is not a signatory to a number of UN human rights conventions.

[acer98]

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

The program is run and monitored by the US State Department, who have the political muscle to influence the likes of the IMF and World Bank to impose financial restrictions on aid programs/loans etc on non compliant countries; the UN does not. In addition the US can withhold or withdraw nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance, thereby applying pressure. The UN is very limited in it's options with Thailand as Thailand is not a signatory to a number of UN human rights conventions.

All very true.

As for "since when", that occurred with the break-up of the only other superpower, the USSR.

Their subsequent sole position in that regard lent itself to the governorship.

Edited June 28, 2013 by acer98

[pisico]

Whether it's human trafficking or copyright infringement or ______________, Thais spend all their energy fretting about being on such lists, and almost no energy actually cleaning up their dirty laundry.

What dirty laundry? This is normal life in Thailand. Heirs to fortune out and about after killing a police officer; motorcycles on the sidewalks endangering the lives of pedestrians; 3 and 4 people on a scooter without helmets and going the wrong way. Trash thrown in every corner, bags full of trash piled on the sidewalks that the soi dogs later shred. Soi dogs rampant all over the cities, littering: a clear sign of urban decay. Double standards to price and/or "protect" foreigners... etc., etc., etc. TIT nothing is wrong here except that Farang can't understand Thainess

[EyesWideOpen]

At last, the Nation has reported on this issue.

The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2013 is here: http://www.state.gov.../2013/index.htm

It makes for sobering reading.

The case of the little Karen girl is highlighted as is the horrendously insensitive treatment of her by the so-called authorities.

...in one severe case, in which a female child belonging to an ethnic minority was kidnapped, abused, and enslaved over the course of fve years, a judge’s misguided decision to grant bail allowed the suspected offenders to fee and escape prosecution.

and later.

'The government did not ensure that child victims’ rights were protected; in a highly-publicized case of a 12-year-old Karen girl who had been enslaved in a Thai couple’s home for five years, police offcials allowed media outlets to publish the girl’s name and take semi-nude photos of her while in police custody.'

Needless to say,and in general, the report states, 'In addition to the well known corruption of local-level police officers, there were also protective relationships between central-level specialist police offcers and the trafficking hot-spot regions to which they were assigned. Thai police offcers and immigration offcials reportedly extorted money or sex from Burmese citizens detained in Thailand for immigration and sold Burmese migrants unable to pay labor brokers and sex traffickers.'

The report is also very critical of the government's poor record on arrest and conviction.

Overall, Thailand has been placed on Tier 2, but will be automatically downgraded to Tier 3 next year if things do not tangibly improve.

In a somewhat bizarre way, I am glad to see that the Thai mistreatment of the little Karen girl has come back to bite them on the ass. The fact that the two monsters tortured her reflects only upon them. However what happened afterwards, with the judge releasing them and allowing them to flee, reflects on Thailand. For which they are now paying the price. Som nam na.....

On a side note, I wonder if being on this watch list will cut into the revenue of the police/army selling captured Burmese refugees to Malaysia? I noticed that story became real quiet......

Ahh here we go. Just saw this...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/649814-thai-policeman-charged-over-rohingya-refugee-assault/

"A policeman has been charged with trafficking after a Rohingya woman was allegedly lured from a shelter in southern Thailand and subsequently raped by a man from the refugee Muslim minority, police told AFP Friday."

Edited June 28, 2013 by EyesWideOpen

[kimamey]

Let's hope the government achieve their aims but seeing how often a clampdown or plan announcement turns out to be just that, an announcement I won't hold my breath.

[simple1]

Amazing, they have achieved absolutely nothing tangible, and they want to be upgraded.

"We made a plan" after 3 years of being asked, and that is supposedly enough to get you upgraded? What planet are these numpties living on? Just wait until the plan fails to be implemented, and they get downgraded and agribusiness exports get blocked.

Now that will really get their attention.

Tier 3 status does not include trade sanctions

Level 4 does though. They only didn't drop onto level 4 because of their wonderful written plan.

Thailand is currently on the Tier 2 watch listing & has been for three years. Should Thailand not comply to their obligations and goals set by the US State Department by 2014, it is likely it will be downgraded to Tier 3. Tier 4 does not exist, for the various tiers and penalties established by the US State department go to: http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2012/192352.htm

[chooka]

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

The program is run and monitored by the US State Department, who have the political muscle to influence the likes of the IMF and World Bank to impose financial restrictions on aid programs/loans etc on non compliant countries; the UN does not. In addition the US can withhold or withdraw nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance, thereby applying pressure. The UN is very limited in it's options with Thailand as Thailand is not a signatory to a number of UN human rights conventions.

Guess that is why Australia does what it is told then, don't want the U.S coming down on them.

[Mampara]

Never admit anything, always image or somebody else is at fault!

The whole world knows that human and animal trafficking is a major export industry in Thailand so why hide it? just say we know that this is a concern, we are trying to combat it. not just always deny everything, be responsible and admit the truth.

[winstonc]

I am an American but I find my government's ongoing Human Rights, Human Trafficking, etc., etc., a bit tiresome. We have a few things in the US that we need to resolve before we lecture others. Far more persuasive to lead by example.

This is tied to trade. If you want to sell product to the USA, make sure that that given industry doesn't use illegal or forced labour. I don't think that is an unfair request do you?

http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/labor-trafficking-in-the-us/agriculture-a-farms

I understand your position. I personally favor more libertarian solutions. A free press to inform the citizenry and a public that demonstrates its committment to Human Rights and boycots products produced by slave labor.

Again, better to lead/influence by example.

so everyones guna stop eating fish in thailand and no country going to import thai fish because of slavery on boats,,,i dont think so,im not having a dig at the above poster,,its a f******d up world we live in,as long as WE can do our little bit to have the moral highground maybe its a start,i know i sleep well at night ,,,,,

[winstonc]

Thailand will regularly report to the United States, Why? Since when has the U.S been in charge and who made them the governor? Wouldn't they be better reporting to an independent body like the U.N?

The program is run and monitored by the US State Department, who have the political muscle to influence the likes of the IMF and World Bank to impose financial restrictions on aid programs/loans etc on non compliant countries; the UN does not. In addition the US can withhold or withdraw nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance, thereby applying pressure. The UN is very limited in it's options with Thailand as Thailand is not a signatory to a number of UN human rights conventions.

Guess that is why Australia does what it is told then, don't want the U.S coming down on them.

im not american,but,its good what they can do to help other countries in aid etc,,so they are right to demand certain things from countries who are very willing to hold out the begging bowl,,well done usa,,

[PoodMaiDai]

Absolutely nothing will actually be done to curb human trafficking here other than them blowing more hot air and making more plans.

The know the problem and who is involved. They know the routes the traffickers use and the cities they go through. Human trafficking / slavery / exploitation is sadly deeply rooted in Asian culture. It's not going anywhere in our lifetime.