The slaves who live and die on Thailand’s fishing boats

[Jonathan Fairfield]

The slaves who live and die on Thailand’s fishing boats

You could, with justification, call it hell on earth.

But this poisonous practice takes place far from land, on the tepid seas of South East Asia. It is called slavery and it has not gone away. In fact, there are thousands of slaves currently working and dying on Thai fishing boats.

If that sounds shocking, let me tell you how it works: men from impoverished communities in Cambodia and Burma depart for Thailand every year, looking for work in factories, plantations or the fields. The experts call them “irregular migrants” – men without passports or proper papers, willing to travel great distances in order to provide for their families at home.

Unscrupulous brokers and human traffickers meet them at the border and offer what sounds like an unbeatable deal – a route into Thailand and a job once they get there. However, it is a well-worked trick.

In reality, these unlucky men have been are sold, for a couple of hundred dollars each, to the owners of Thai fishing boats. Typically, the lie is revealed as the boat leaves the shore and the coastline fades from view.

Seafood is big business in Thailand – it’s now the third largest exporter in the world, supplying supermarkets in Europe and America. But the fishing fleet is chronically short of crew – by the government’s own estimation 50,000 additional labourers are required.

These modern-day slaves help make up the difference and unsurprisingly, boat owners give little thought to conditions on board. Captives work 20-hour days with little food or fresh water and they are beaten if they resist.

Injuries go untreated and those unable to work are often thrown overboard.

We know an increasing amount about the brutal situation on these vessels because of the work done by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and American film-maker Alex Willson, who have interviewed dozens of former captives about their experiences on the slave ships.

A young man called Amusa for example, was forced to spend seven years on a fishing boat and thought he would die at sea. “When we did something wrong they beat us until we lost consciousness,” he said.

“If you compete with them or fight with them they will kill and throw you in the water.” Another fisherman, Vorn, was held for nine years. “There were 30 people working on the boat and we worked without food or sleep. Even when we were sick, we couldn’t relax or sleep. We had to work.”

Still, captives have found a variety of ways to escape – like swimming great distances to shore – and there are a number of charities and other groups who stand ready to assist them.

The IOM has helped rescue 324 Cambodians over the last few years and you can see and hear more from some of these reluctant fishermen in our special report.

If you are wondering what the government of Thailand is doing about all this, they have proposed a series of measures including an official registration system for potential workers and employers, although little concrete action has been taken.

What Thai diplomats did do however, was try to block to the publication of Alex Willson’s interviews on the internet in an attempt to save the nation from being tarred with the noxious brush of slavery.

Their efforts have failed however, and we should all be glad because these unfortunate men speak for thousands and thousands of others.

Source: Channel 4 News

See more at: http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/slaves-live-die-thailands-fishing-boats/

[tomyummer]

Thailand and slavery? Work with no promised pay? Taking tips from the rice pledging Scheme? No way!

[ChrisY1]

Staggering that virtually nothing is done....2014 and slavery continues to be doing so well in the region.

Token gestures by the authorities to try to have Thailand' rating reduced on the human trafficking register....but as usual...no convictions ever!

Who are these fishing fleet owners....? There can't be so many of them that they can't be known.....!

[Costas2008]

Yes, and UN, Human rights organisation and other esteemed organisations of the global community are only interested in Democracy upheld in Thailand.

Edited February 18, 2014 by Costas2008

[rogerdee123]

It's about time this is exposed ....

another peek behind the "Thai Smile"

[rogerdee123]

Yes, and UN, Human rights organisation and other esteemed organisations of the global community are only interested in Democracy upheld in Thailand.

The UN's hands are tied in Thailand ... by the Thai Govt (I mean all of the Govts ..... not only this one ... but including this one).

I believe it takes a security council decision to do something in a country against the wishes of the host country itself.

[ponchi]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

[Luk Mhee]

Things are really starting to get embarrassing, Drugs, prostitution, extortion, corruption, the Rohingya problem, and now Slavery.

[realfunster]

I have some experience on this matter as a Thai friend comes from a fishing village with hundreds of boats moored on the multitude of piers.

I have been out recreational fishing a few times from this area and it is quite obvious from a walk-around that a large number of workers are non-Thai. I believe conditions are basic and the work tough. I have heard that beatings may be given.

I would think if this was seriously being tackled then spot checks at ports around Thailand could be effective very quickly.

On a more positive note, my friend tells me that someone in the village has gone on the run due to police investigations on illegal workers , so perhaps something is being done.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Costas2008]

ponchi, on 18 Feb 2014 - 08:11, said:ponchi, on 18 Feb 2014 - 08:11, said:ponchi, on 18 Feb 2014 - 08:11, said:

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

These are HUMAN BEINGS, exploited by Thais.

Edited February 18, 2014 by Costas2008

[bangkokheat]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

no they are not thai people, but they are still human sufferers, sounds like you need a job on these boats for a wake up call

[Morakot]

Shocking!!

[canuckamuck]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

Because if Thailand wants to be considered a equal member of the world community, it needs to understand that all people have rights and people from outside of your borders are not lower than you. In fact the slavers are the lowest form of human. Thailand should be deeply ashamed.

If this was happening to Thai citizens would you still be so smug?

Edited February 18, 2014 by canuckamuck

[Morakot]

Apparently not a new issue:

Thailand ignoring slaves at sea, says EJF report on Burmese migrants

Burmese men kept as forced labourers on shrimping boats in Kantang, Thailand, says Environmental Justice Foundation

• Annie Kelly
• theguardian.com, Wednesday 29 May 2013 12.28 BST

Thailand is facing fresh allegations of using slave labour in its fishing industry with the launch of a new investigation into the sale, abuse and exploitation of migrant workers on Thai fishing ships.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/may/29/thailand-slaves-sea-burmese-migrants

Edited February 18, 2014 by Morakot

[Luk Mhee]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

Why you no try and work on fishing boat for one month?

Thank goodness we have many people in Thailand who care.

[MacWalen]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

Ponchi, that was a really bad comment. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Edited February 18, 2014 by MacWalen

[FRR]

There is a way to stop this. Stop demand for Thai seafood products. If the large supermarket chains of the world; Tesco, Carrefour, Ahold, Aldi, Walmart, Costco, Woolworths, Coles etc put in rigid Ethical sourcing polices demand would decrease and force change in the Thai supply chains. Alternatively, if consumers stop purchasing Thai seafood products the supermarket chains would be forced to react and change would also occur.

[taony]

Oh good, someone else for my ignore list.

[clockman]

It is that unique brand of Thainess. And there slant on Buddism!

[jollyman]

And Not just fishing boats, the Thai shrimp factories also use this slave labour There was a big story on this last year on BBC and CNN New york times)

Edited February 18, 2014 by jollyman

[h90]

Yes, and UN, Human rights organisation and other esteemed organisations of the global community are only interested in Democracy upheld in Thailand.

Since when? They follow business interests and where to get it easiest. Saudi Arabia democracy is good enough if the oil flows.

[harada]

It's about time this is exposed ....

another peek behind the "Thai Smile"

I read a book back in the 80's called Behind The Smile ( not sure if its still available ) its worth a read, fishing slavery is only the tip of the iceberg.

[Morakot]

Forced to fish: Slavery on Thailand's trawlers

By Becky Palmstrom BBC News, Thailand

23 January 2014 Last updated at 23:11

Human Rights Watch says the use of forced labour on the boats is "systematic" and "pervasive"

Thailand is the third largest exporter of seafood in the world, supplying supermarkets in Europe and America, but it's accused of crewing fishing boats with Burmese and Cambodian men who've been sold and forced to work as slaves.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25814718

[Morakot]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

Ponchi, that was a really bad comment. You should be ashamed of yourself.

The value of Ponchi's post is that it looks like it's straight from the horse's mouth: It's emblematic of wider thought in Thai society.

Despicable, nonetheless!

Edited February 18, 2014 by Morakot

[arthurboy]

From Thai Visa last year: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/649761-thailand-upset-by-human-trafficking-watch-list/

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)

The report here: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/210742.pdf details various people trafficking issues, including this:

A report released by an international organization in January 2011 noted prevalent forced labor conditions, including debt bondage, among Cambodian and Burmese individuals recruited—some forcefully or through fraud—for work in the Thai fishing industry. According to the report, Burmese, Cambodian, and Thai men were trafficked onto Thai fishing boats that traveled throughout Southeast Asia and beyond, where they remained at sea for up to several years, not paid, forced to work 18 to 20 hours per day for seven days a week, and threatened and physically beaten. Similarly, an earlier UN survey found that 29 of 49 (58 percent) surveyed migrant fishermen trafficked aboard Thai fishing boats had reported witnessing a fellow fishermen killed by boat captains in instances when they were too weak or sick to work.

Edited February 18, 2014 by arthurboy

[taony]

It's about time this is exposed ....

another peek behind the "Thai Smile"

I read a book back in the 80's called Behind The Smile ( not sure if its still available ) its worth a read, fishing slavery is only the tip of the iceberg.

is this it?

http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9789748566689?clickid=QPs0kZQ0r1fpVw%3A0ZN2w228iUkTUrkzTTW0wzw0&cm_mmc=aff-_-ir-_-64682-_-77798&afn_sr=impact

[sam sen]

this is not thai people.

why we care?

can stay in myanmar or cambodia if dont like!!

we dont ask you to come here.

this is THAI land.

absolutely. and any thai that travels abroad and has a problem please dont complain.

it is not your country!

no one asked you leave thailand.

no one asked you to travel here!

[noitom]

Write to your embassy and demand that they black list Thai seafood for human rights violations. Write to each of these major food outlets and boycott Thai products.

[sam sen]

this is a well known situation at all levels of thai government and internationally.

there was a recent bbc documentary about slavery on thai fishing boats. the corruption at all levels was clear for anyone to see. the police pay lip service to the problem and collect their cut.

the EU representative in thailand was interviewed - as the EU is a major market for thai fish - and he basically wasnt interested in doing anything to pressurize the thai government to respond to the problem.

too many people are making too much money

[stickylies]

and the cambodians will try to forgive and forget again... and again... and again.

i don't know if the comment above by someone who appears to be thai is serious or a fake/troll post anyway.

but if serious then you are khun raai...