Thai officials prosecuted for human trafficking

Bangkok, Thailand | AFP

BANGKOK: -- More than a dozen Thai government officials -- including senior policemen and a navy officer -- are being prosecuted for human trafficking, junta officials said Friday, as they vowed "zero tolerance" of the trade.


Thailand has long been a regional hub for modern day slavery with officials accused of not doing enough to halt the trade and even being active participants.


In June the United States dumped Thailand to the bottom of its list of countries accused of failing to tackle human trafficking.


The kingdom's junta, which took over in a May coup, has vowed to crack down on the trade and said Friday that they had launched a string of prosecutions against senior officials.


Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai insisted the arrests -- which included police officers with the ranks of colonel and lieutenant colonel -- were proof that Thailand's generals were serious about pursuing officials involved in the trade.


"At the least this is an indication of how earnest and determined we are in trying to enforce the law and apprehend the perpetrators," he told reporters.


Songsak Saicheua, a foreign ministry official, said at least 15 police officers were facing prosecution, alongside a Royal Thai Navy officer, two local administration officials and a social worker.


Many of those trafficked through Thailand are Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar, described by the UN as one of the world's most persecuted minorities.


Thousands of Rohingya have fled deadly communal unrest in western Myanmar's Rakhine state since 2012.


Myanmar views its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.


In recent weeks Thai authorities have discovered scores of the group fleeing dire conditions by making perilous journeys across the ocean, taking advantage of the slightly calmer winter waters in the Andaman Sea to head south.


Earlier this month Thai authorities discovered five pickup trucks carrying nearly 100 Rohingya -- mostly aged under 18 -- in southern Thailand.


Three of the refugees had died from suffocation and dehydration.


Rights groups have criticised Thailand in the past for pushing boatloads of Rohingya entering Thai waters back out to sea and for holding migrants in overcrowded facilities.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-01-30

Amazing what an International slap round the head and pocket does for motivation.

Names and more details please.

"Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai insisted the arrests ... were proof that Thailand's generals were serious about pursuing officials involved in the trade."

"At the least this is an indication of how earnest and determined we are in trying to enforce the law and apprehend the perpetrators," he told reporters.

Well, well, well. Isn't that timely?

After Mr. Russel's visit.

The equivalent of a Taxi driver being busted on camera until something is done.

I'd appreciate a follow-up on this story.

Amazing what an International slap round the head and pocket does for motivation.

Names and more details please.

At least this is a start. It would never have happened 3 years ago. So maybe things are changing for the better?

"Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai insisted the arrests ... were proof that Thailand's generals were serious about pursuing officials involved in the trade."

Let me correct this.

"Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai insisted the arrests ... were proof that Thailand's Past government were anything but serious about pursuing officials involved in the trade."

Considering the abysmally low salaries they're paid, it's not surprising they seek to supplement their income in other ways. The following article which dates from 2013 highlights the need for a pay review: http://www.cgmoore.com/blog/view.asp?id=784

Human trafficking on the other hand is a despicable way of earning a living and I hope the PM throws the book at them.

Amazing what an International slap round the head and pocket does for motivation.

Names and more details please.

At least this is a start. It would never have happened 3 years ago. So maybe things are changing for the better?

indeed its a start. And it would have happened 3 years ago had there been the pressure and boot up the ass then.

However, lets see what actually happens to those "prosecuted" before claiming any results.

Fully expect these prosecutions to go at a snails pace unless theres real a need to show convicted and real results for re grading.

Lets hope the international community dosnt back off the pressure or expectations.

ill believe it when there names are printed along with pictures of trafficked people pointing at them

It would be nice to see less racism in Thailand and more respect for people from other cultures. Then i think we would see less human trafficking?

If they actually go the distance and lock them up.... BRAVO!!!!

It is about time.

Does anyone really believe this is nothing more than a show? They are pushing the USA to get them to lower their rating. Dump a few lower people to make a show and let the masterminds go. Does anyone really think a colonel and lieutenant did this without their boss knowing and profiting from it?

will this make Alan feel vindicated ?

Interesting development. My understanding from past stories was that

the military was heavily involved in the trafficking of the Rohingya refugees.

Think the police were just used for the transport of them. Guess with

Thailand having such a black name now when it come to trafficking,

time to throw a few small fish under the wheels of the bus.....

The USA is not going to go for the "Thainess" approach.

Tangible results. Period.

The autocrats can shove their committees and sub-committees and their bla bla bla.

End of story.

Really? I think this is crap being spewed out to try and trick the U.S into adjusting their rating. Who are these ghosts that have been rounded up and charged. Thailand is always very quick to name high profile police and others when charged look at the officer linked to the former princess.

I wont believe this until they provide some proof that this has actually happened and I don't think the U.S will either.

I guess now the journalists who revealed the military and officials were involved will be exonerated or will they still be prosecuted because no one has seen the ghosts that were arrested?

So what about the farang with the newspaper being charged with defaming the navy?

Case dismissed?

As long they provide only figures, but no names on the first hand and no trials with real punishment, not only pay some tausends of THB, then is this IMO just a charade.

1 site telling a kind of fairytale and hope the others believe this bull$hit.

We call this in my country Kasperle Theater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Y-IC4fEDo&list=PLFgqoIgHVTlgO3MxwuOZA--NypDhyfr0I&index=4

As long they provide only figures, but no names on the first hand and no trials with real punishment, not only pay some tausends of THB, then is this IMO just a charade.

1 site telling a kind of fairytale and hope the others believe this bull$hit.

We call this in my country Kasperle Theater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Y-IC4fEDo&list=PLFgqoIgHVTlgO3MxwuOZA--NypDhyfr0I&index=4

Somehow I don't think the world media is buying the story either

According to Thailand’s junta officials on Friday, senior policemen and a navy officer are among the officials, who are detained and being prosecuted with regard to this issue.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/01/30/395419/Thai-officials-face-prosecution

According to someone

officially

adverb

according to what governments or people in authority say, although it may not be true

Considering the abysmally low salaries they're paid, it's not surprising they seek to supplement their income in other ways. The following article which dates from 2013 highlights the need for a pay review: http://www.cgmoore.com/blog/view.asp?id=784

Human trafficking on the other hand is a despicable way of earning a living and I hope the PM throws the book at them.

This has gone far beyond supplementing for low salaries and pays, this has to do with pure greed

and a complete disregard of the law and human sufferings, seeing how many of their counterpart

are all engaging in the same dispeakble act and get rich, worst come to worst they will be transfers

to 'inactive post'.....

So the Reuters article accusing RTN as being involved in human trafficking and then having a law suit against them for the article is now going to be dropped? along with the two people in Phuket that re-published the Reuters story?

A few token selected offerings to appease the world as a show, look see we are doing something about it

How about some real investigative journalism and have a look for yourselves and not just accept the offerings thrown to you, Apply your trade and you might just get some respect.

I do seem to recall the Thais going ape and threatening with defamation lawsuits when these accusations were initially revealed.

So I wonder how long the whistle blowers will be waiting for an official apology???

More than a dozen Thai government officials -- including senior policemen and a navy officer -- are being prosecuted for human trafficking, junta officials said Friday, as they vowed "zero tolerance" of the trade.

Another case for....

1. Attitude adjustment

2. a clap on the wrist

3. Nasty nasty boys, don't get caught next time again....

trafficking bar girls needs to be number one priority as there are thousands, but obviously very difficult to detect for the RTP.

What utter crap!

I sincerely hope the U.S. can see thru' these weekly reports 'manufactured' here by the Junta..as was mentioned in an earlier post..no names mentioned here, I for one would dearly like to see photos of these perps in cuffs looking sorrowful..but it's all a charade.

(All those poor men suffering on Thai fishing boats, & the total number of Thai Navy officers mentioned in this report amounts to the grand total of....1).

"The proof of the pudding is in the tasting" Lets wait and see how these prosecutions go and see what kind of sentences the

guilty receive.

Do you think this is why the Thai Shippers council dropped it's forecast from 2.5% to 1.5% growth in shipping?

Could the arrests be the negative factors

ill believe it when there names are printed along with pictures of trafficked people pointing at them

If you think that is ever going to happen just to prove what has been stated and to satisfy your lack of belief then you must believe in the tooth fairy

Amazing what an International slap round the head and pocket does for motivation.

Names and more details please.

At least this is a start. It would never have happened 3 years ago. So maybe things are changing for the better?

Your are damn naive... .. First I may remind you that the media is totally controlled by the Junta. It is not possible to questions them... and all news to be brocasted is first filtered and approved by the good guys... it is obvious what kind of news is release!!!! The same is happening in Venezuela, a beautiful country ruled by militaries... so they release these kind of news for just 'image". This is a typical behavior!!

However, You cannot hide a lit-candle inside a dark room.... Tough times ahead !!!!

So what about the farang with the newspaper being charged with defaming the navy?

Case dismissed?

Probably not, as I believe in the bizarre world of Thailand, when

defamation occurs, it does not matter if the charges are true or

not. Amazing Thailand indeed. One of the reasons that TV will

not do name and shame. Even if the story was true, they could

still face charges from the person or business. What it really is

, is an indirect form of censorship, as the truth cannot be

printed. If someone ever takes control of Thailand with the best

interest of the country in mind, think these insane defamation

laws will be the first to go...

Anything for money. Idiots.