Laos, Thailand vow to combat cross-border human trafficking

[Lite Beer]

TRAFFICKING
Laos, Thailand vow to combat cross-border human trafficking

Laos and Thailand have vowed to work together to tackle the ongoing cross-border human trafficking as officials of both sides held talks last week in Laos.

Neighbouring Thailand has been a popular destination for Lao job seekers with more than 100,000 Lao nationals working there both legally and illegally, according to information from the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

But a number of the Lao workers have become victims of human trafficking with women and girls the most vulnerable group especially those working there illegally.

A report from last week’s meeting in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province showed that 144 Lao nationals were made victims of human trafficking over the past year. They were rescued and sent back to Laos.

Of the victims, almost all (143) were female, of which 31 were under 18 years old.

These workers were mainly forced into the sex trade, or forced to work in factories, restaurants, farms, and fisheries or as housekeepers, among other activities, according to the report.

In addition to the 144 victims who have already been sent back to Laos, another 110 are being held at a detention centre in Thailand for investigation and processing.

During last week’s meeting - the 15th such meeting of Lao and Thai authorities in charge of human trafficking - both sides discussed ways to strengthen their cooperation including the exchange of information.

Head of Office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Khamkhane Phinsavanh led the Lao delegation at the talks.

The Thai delegation pledged to speed up their investigations and send back those still in the detention centre.

For its part, the Lao team vowed to follow up with those victims who were sent back to Laos in order to help them normalise their return to society and living with their families.

Recently, the Thai authorities announced they would take concrete step to regulate foreign workers, especially the illegal ones, amid reports which suggest that a number of foreigners are still working illegally in the kingdom.

The Thai authorities have confirmed their plan to legalise alien workers so they would not continue to be victimised by human traffickers and would be entitled to the same legal protection and welfare that Thai workers receive, according to Thailand’s Bangkok Post newspaper.

The Lao authorities said up to 90,000 Lao citizens working in Thailand will need to work out the required documents to legalise their status as workers in the country.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Laos-Thailand-vow-to-combat-cross-border-human-tra-30237947.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-07

[Thai at Heart]

144+110 in a couple of years.

Wow. They really haven't been looking too hard. If they basically included every girl from Laos in the sex trade, the number would be in the thousands.

[UbonRatch]

"These workers were mainly forced into the sex trade, or forced to work in factories, restaurants, farms, and fisheries or as housekeepers, among other activities, according to the report.

In addition to the 144 victims who have already been sent back to Laos, another 110 are being held at a detention centre in Thailand for investigation and processing."

Processing? Is this a factory trade then?

Why not start at border control, and the bastards who earn the money, immigration officers as well; you know, the ones who condone it. Immigration officers are the ones with gold and big mansions, and aint that for a reason!

[noitom]

They're "vowing" about everything, these Thais. Another Thai press story had them "vowing" to take back the tour title from Kyoto. It must be in vogue to vow nowadays in Thailand. The military dictatorship must be liking "vows." The Thai wheeler dealer Mr. Bigs have decoded how to suck up to the military dictatorship by making "vows" to do this and that.

[dieter1]

Just some questions:

Do I understand this right?

There are still 110 victims (!?) of human trafficking "held at a detention centre", right ?

so

does that mean, they are imprisoned ?

nearly all of them are female

and

a big part of them are under age /minors/under 18 years/non-adults

and

most of them or many of them

are

" forced into the sex trade"

right?

How many culprits are imprisoned because of these criminal doings?

And

Is this the normal procedure for minor victims of criminal sexual exploration,rape, being forced to prostitution... in Thailand ?

What kind of professional help do these girls get ? Are they now save, while staying in the "detention centre" ?

[chainarong]

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They're "vowing" about everything, these Thais. Another Thai press story had them "vowing" to take back the tour title from Kyoto. It must be in vogue to vow nowadays in Thailand. The military dictatorship must be liking "vows." The Thai wheeler dealer Mr. Bigs have decoded how to suck up to the military dictatorship by making "vows" to do this and that.

I am starting to worry that the PTP are still in power, less talk and more action, then again heads of departments are used to the PTP way.

[noitom]

Until the Thai military dictatorship starts making major Thai Mr. Big busts with government heads, commercial corruption and Thai bankers all hauled off in handcuffs tried publicly and sentenced accordingly, no example is being set. It's the same old same old. Small selective petty busts of runners, small time bookmakers, book readers, gambling bet takers, a few taxis here and there, and a few low level sex, child, and slave labor dealers. No Thai Mr. Bigs ever busted, no bankers whatsoever means no change to cultural behavior.

[tingtongteesood]

Give it time red sheeple, these things take time. It has been just a few weeks. Progress is being made. Wait and see....They accomplished more for the good of the country in just 1 month than PTP and all Thaksin's previous lackey incarnations ever did ! They have moved mountains and performed miracles already. Now stop bleating and let them get on with it.

Edited July 8, 2014 by tingtongteesood