Cops raid Phuket massage parlours in anti-human trafficking drive: VIDEO

[smotherb]

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't get on my knees and thank the stars above that I wasn't born a Thai.

The on-going news clearly depicts Thailand in all its glory ... yes the land of scams, rip-offs, prostitution and violence crime; mostly perpetrated against any foreigner stupid enough to visit.

The raids came as part of the government̕s drive to lift Thailand out of Tier 3, the lowest grade in the United States̕ Trafficking in Persons Report.

This is NOT going to be anywhere near enough for the US to reconsider its position. Apart from all the underage prostitution there still remains high levels of human trafficking and slavery. Add to this the mix of martial law, the removal of fundamental human rights, the on-going discrimination and the media being effectively forced into silence unless it meets with gov approval and you have the perfect recipe for potential sanctions ... it amazes me to this day how Thailand has managed to escape sanctions over the years.

You could offer me $100 million and I still wouldn't step foot in Thailand ... human dignity has no price; unless of course if you're a Thai and then they'll sell it for 100 Baht.

You sanctimonious sloth, there are scams, rip-offs, prostitution, and violent crime in the States; get your head out of your posterior.

[trianglechoke]

why video them?

[tpazzi]

Yes, traditionally Thais count themselves in the year they become 1 to already be 1. So if she is born in January she would be 30 now in western years, but 31 in Thai.

Does this mean that the "over 18" criteria is met as of a woman's 17th birthday in Thailand?

Or is the standard actually "18 & under"?

[Shadychris]

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't get on my knees and thank the stars above that I wasn't born a Thai.

The on-going news clearly depicts Thailand in all its glory ... yes the land of scams, rip-offs, prostitution and violence crime; mostly perpetrated against any foreigner stupid enough to visit.

The raids came as part of the government̕s drive to lift Thailand out of Tier 3, the lowest grade in the United States̕ Trafficking in Persons Report.

This is NOT going to be anywhere near enough for the US to reconsider its position. Apart from all the underage prostitution there still remains high levels of human trafficking and slavery. Add to this the mix of martial law, the removal of fundamental human rights, the on-going discrimination and the media being effectively forced into silence unless it meets with gov approval and you have the perfect recipe for potential sanctions ... it amazes me to this day how Thailand has managed to escape sanctions over the years.

You could offer me $100 million and I still wouldn't step foot in Thailand ... human dignity has no price; unless of course if you're a Thai and then they'll sell it for 100 Baht.

You sanctimonious sloth, there are scams, rip-offs, prostitution, and violent crime in the States; get your head out of your posterior.

Don't feed the Troll!!

Given Suffinators apparent loathing of everything Thai - the only possible reason for him to come to a Thai oriented forum, is to pass his sad lonely hours away by Trolling, to try and get a reaction and acknowledgement of his pathetic existence...

Thankfully nobody is ever likely to offer him any sum of money to set foot in Thailand, or indeed any other country outside of his beloved Utopian USA..

[LivinLOS]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

Prostitution is not illegal, it's regulated.

The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 (1996)

The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act is the central legal framework prohibiting prostitution. Under the act, a definition of "prostitution" is provided: “Sexual intercourse, or any other act, or the commission of any other act in order to gratify the sexual desire of another person in a promiscuous manner in return for money or any other benefit, irrespective of whether the person who accepts the act and the person who commits the act are of the same sex or not.”

[Nemesis7]

Hope one day actually they raid the right place and spot to actually save people who were forced into prostitution.

[Malthus101]

Um......... pointless X 1000?

[brewsterbudgen]

Yes, traditionally Thais count themselves in the year they become 1 to already be 1. So if she is born in January she would be 30 now in western years, but 31 in Thai.

Does this mean that the "over 18" criteria is met as of a woman's 17th birthday in Thailand?

Or is the standard actually "18 & under"?

Thais' date of birth is clearly shown on their ID card. There is no ambiguity.

[brewsterbudgen]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

Prostitution is not illegal, it's regulated.

The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 (1996)

The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act is the central legal framework prohibiting prostitution. Under the act, a definition of "prostitution" is provided: “Sexual intercourse, or any other act, or the commission of any other act in order to gratify the sexual desire of another person in a promiscuous manner in return for money or any other benefit, irrespective of whether the person who accepts the act and the person who commits the act are of the same sex or not.”

Correct. It's illegal if carried out in a promiscuous manner. Otherwise if between consenting adults, it doesn't come within that Act. That is the beauty of the barfine and the massage parlour - nothing promiscuous.

[Alwyn]

So basically an article telling us the police made a raid that paid no dividends as everybody was legal. And that's regarded as news?

[Alwyn]

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't get on my knees and thank the stars above that I wasn't born a Thai.

The on-going news clearly depicts Thailand in all its glory ... yes the land of scams, rip-offs, prostitution and violence crime; mostly perpetrated against any foreigner stupid enough to visit.

The raids came as part of the government̕s drive to lift Thailand out of Tier 3, the lowest grade in the United States̕ Trafficking in Persons Report.

This is NOT going to be anywhere near enough for the US to reconsider its position. Apart from all the underage prostitution there still remains high levels of human trafficking and slavery. Add to this the mix of martial law, the removal of fundamental human rights, the on-going discrimination and the media being effectively forced into silence unless it meets with gov approval and you have the perfect recipe for potential sanctions ... it amazes me to this day how Thailand has managed to escape sanctions over the years.

You could offer me $100 million and I still wouldn't step foot in Thailand ... human dignity has no price; unless of course if you're a Thai and then they'll sell it for 100 Baht.

Lucky us!

[heybruce]

Born 1985 and she is 31?

Which girl, that is forced into prostitution, is going to raise her hand when her pimp stands right behind her?

Where were the pimps?

In most of these fishbowl places there are always a group of Thai men sitting and watching the women, and doing nothing else. My guess is that they're the pimps.

[RigPig]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

Prostitution is not illegal, it's regulated.

It is illegal

But there is no prostitution in Thailand, men don´t pay women for sex (or whoever) they just pay them to go home in the mornng...

[Baerboxer]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

It's illegal in the UK. But the wording of the law makes solicitation for prostitution illegal not the act itself. Kerb crawling is different. Massage parlors and escorts advertise in the media and online. UK police forces have varying attitudes. Several years ago West Mercia police had a zero tolerance and you'd find no adverts in the local papers. Step across to the West Midland's police area and it was all over the place in the open. So Thailand isn't the only country to enforce the law regionally selectively.

Sensible countries like Germany and the Netherlands adopt a realistic approach. Sweden and France a more unrealistic one. Seeing this is the world's oldest profession, surely the most important thing is to stop underage, trafficking and exploitation?

[Baerboxer]

Born 1985 and she is 31?

Which girl, that is forced into prostitution, is going to raise her hand when her pimp stands right behind her?

Where were the pimps?

In most of these fishbowl places there are always a group of Thai men sitting and watching the women, and doing nothing else. My guess is that they're the pimps.

Maybe pimps, maybe boyfriends or husbands. But certainly there to kick your teeth in if you step out of line.

Something very sad about seeing a young Thai couple with a small child drive up to Nana or Soi Cowboy on a motor cycle. Mum get's off doled up for the nights work whilst dad takes child home. Seen this a few times whilst sipping a cold one. Their business, not mine, but sad.

[thaibeachlovers]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

It's illegal in the UK. But the wording of the law makes solicitation for prostitution illegal not the act itself. Kerb crawling is different. Massage parlors and escorts advertise in the media and online. UK police forces have varying attitudes. Several years ago West Mercia police had a zero tolerance and you'd find no adverts in the local papers. Step across to the West Midland's police area and it was all over the place in the open. So Thailand isn't the only country to enforce the law regionally selectively.

Sensible countries like Germany and the Netherlands adopt a realistic approach. Sweden and France a more unrealistic one. Seeing this is the world's oldest profession, surely the most important thing is to stop underage, trafficking and exploitation?

Prostitution is not illegal in the UK as long as it is carried out in private rooms and no pimps, unless the law has changed since I was there. However, as you say, actual solicitation ie on the street is illegal, for the customer, not the prostitute. Didn't stop it though. I was propositioned by a very attractive young lady at King's Cross station. I wasn't going anywhere with her, but asked the price ! Thai Gogo/ BGs are cheap at twice the price compared to a mere half hour in London.

[thaibeachlovers]

Born 1985 and she is 31?

Which girl, that is forced into prostitution, is going to raise her hand when her pimp stands right behind her?

Where were the pimps?

In most of these fishbowl places there are always a group of Thai men sitting and watching the women, and doing nothing else. My guess is that they're the pimps.

Maybe pimps, maybe boyfriends or husbands. But certainly there to kick your teeth in if you step out of line.

Something very sad about seeing a young Thai couple with a small child drive up to Nana or Soi Cowboy on a motor cycle. Mum get's off doled up for the nights work whilst dad takes child home. Seen this a few times whilst sipping a cold one. Their business, not mine, but sad.

Considering that most of the Gogo/ BGs are doing it to pay for their child/ren, that's a strange way to feel IMO. Most leave their mothers to bring up the child/ren in the village, but the majority ( IMO ) have child/ren whether you see them or not.

I never feel sad for them, as it is their choice. They could work in the rice fields for 3,000 a month, but CHOOSE the easy path to "riches". In their shoes, I'd probably do the same.

[thaibeachlovers]

Born 1985 and she is 31?

Which girl, that is forced into prostitution, is going to raise her hand when her pimp stands right behind her?

Where were the pimps?

In most of these fishbowl places there are always a group of Thai men sitting and watching the women, and doing nothing else. My guess is that they're the pimps.

I doubt it. Probably enforcers/ employees, but to be pimps, they'd either be talking to the customers or owners of the establishment ( according to the definition I just read ).

[thaibeachlovers]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

Prostitution is not illegal, it's regulated.

It is illegal

But there is no prostitution in Thailand, men don´t pay women for sex (or whoever) they just pay them to go home in the mornng...

The Thai scene for farangs is more akin to an escort service than prostitution. You pay them for their time, not for sex. That is "up to them" in the end.

[thaibeachlovers]

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't get on my knees and thank the stars above that I wasn't born a Thai.

The on-going news clearly depicts Thailand in all its glory ... yes the land of scams, rip-offs, prostitution and violence crime; mostly perpetrated against any foreigner stupid enough to visit.

The raids came as part of the government̕s drive to lift Thailand out of Tier 3, the lowest grade in the United States̕ Trafficking in Persons Report.

This is NOT going to be anywhere near enough for the US to reconsider its position. Apart from all the underage prostitution there still remains high levels of human trafficking and slavery. Add to this the mix of martial law, the removal of fundamental human rights, the on-going discrimination and the media being effectively forced into silence unless it meets with gov approval and you have the perfect recipe for potential sanctions ... it amazes me to this day how Thailand has managed to escape sanctions over the years.

You could offer me $100 million and I still wouldn't step foot in Thailand ... human dignity has no price; unless of course if you're a Thai and then they'll sell it for 100 Baht.

Apart from all the underage prostitution

That old urban myth! While it may happen in the THAI bar scene, it would be hard to find for the average punter in Thailand for a two week holiday. I have spent many an evening walking from Pattaya Walking Street to the Naklua bars up Second Rd and back down beach Road, and if there were any underage girls, they must have been hidden away somewhere. Certainly not in view.

For the US to criticize Thailand is utmost hypocricy. Prostitution is legal in some states and there is plenty of illegal going on elsewhere. They should deal with their own problem before lecturing other countries.

Of course, I know as much about what goes on in the States from first hand experience, as you know about the Thai scene, which is ZERO.

I do not know in which country you live, but I do know that it has a prostitution scene, so why are you so down on Thailand, ESPECIALLY as you have never been there?

[jacko45k]

Pleased to see the raids continue to expose those who profit from misery

They didn't catch any, not a one!

Business as usual.

Edited February 3, 2015 by jacko45k

[brewsterbudgen]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

It's illegal in the UK. But the wording of the law makes solicitation for prostitution illegal not the act itself. Kerb crawling is different. Massage parlors and escorts advertise in the media and online. UK police forces have varying attitudes. Several years ago West Mercia police had a zero tolerance and you'd find no adverts in the local papers. Step across to the West Midland's police area and it was all over the place in the open. So Thailand isn't the only country to enforce the law regionally selectively.

Sensible countries like Germany and the Netherlands adopt a realistic approach. Sweden and France a more unrealistic one. Seeing this is the world's oldest profession, surely the most important thing is to stop underage, trafficking and exploitation?

Which is what hopefully the authorities here are doing.

The act of paying money for sex ( prostitution) is not illegal in the UK, and as long as done in a non promiscuous way, not illegal in Thailand either.

[LivinLOS]

The comedy factor is that prostitution is illegal.. And here you are, with the top cops and media in tow.. Going to places that even the cop doesnt try to pretend is not a place of prostitution, but thats Ok because there was no one underage...

If its illegal.. How does the cop manage to reconcile that HUGE operation happening on his patch (I know.. Rhetorical question)..

Prostitution is not illegal, it's regulated.

The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 (1996)

The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act is the central legal framework prohibiting prostitution. Under the act, a definition of "prostitution" is provided: “Sexual intercourse, or any other act, or the commission of any other act in order to gratify the sexual desire of another person in a promiscuous manner in return for money or any other benefit, irrespective of whether the person who accepts the act and the person who commits the act are of the same sex or not.”

Correct. It's illegal if carried out in a promiscuous manner. Otherwise if between consenting adults, it doesn't come within that Act. That is the beauty of the barfine and the massage parlour - nothing promiscuous.

Your talking enforcement and not law..

Its illegal.. This is why tea money is called tea money.. because the government wanted to tax whorehouses so they called them tea rooms and charged them tea money to operate..

And thats why its such comedy.. They have a law but no one wants to enforce it, they want to perform all kinds of mental gymnastics to pretend they dont have a law, that the law doesnt apply, that they dont need to enforce 'that one' and everything is fine.

[LivinLOS]

The comedy is not should it be illegal or not.. I think consenting adults should be free to do as they choose, the issue is a top cop dragging the media through all this.. Saying "hey everything is fine" when he is clearly supposed to be enforcing a law which he does not want to enforce.. And no one wants him too.

[brewsterbudgen]

Correct. It's illegal if carried out in a promiscuous manner. Otherwise if between consenting adults, it doesn't come within that Act. That is the beauty of the barfine and the massage parlour - nothing promiscuous.

Your talking enforcement and not law..

Its illegal.. This is why tea money is called tea money.. because the government wanted to tax whorehouses so they called them tea rooms and charged them tea money to operate..

And thats why its such comedy.. They have a law but no one wants to enforce it, they want to perform all kinds of mental gymnastics to pretend they dont have a law, that the law doesnt apply, that they dont need to enforce 'that one' and everything is fine.

Then why does it specifically state "carried out in a promiscuous manner" which implies that non-promiscuous prostitution (behind closed doors) is permitted under the law, and why are the separate references to penalties for underage prostitutes, again implying that for prostitutes 18 and over it is permitted? I do agree it's a grey area, hence the police have many ways of extracting their take!

The UK law is far clearer, with the act of prostitution itself being legal, but much of what surrounds it being against the law.

[brewsterbudgen]

The comedy is not should it be illegal or not.. I think consenting adults should be free to do as they choose, the issue is a top cop dragging the media through all this.. Saying "hey everything is fine" when he is clearly supposed to be enforcing a law which he does not want to enforce.. And no one wants him too.

Because everything was fine. There were no trafficked women or underage girls. Everything was operating legally.

[wabothai]

Interesting video.

The girls don't want to be recognized by their family and friends back home in Esan, because the family was told they were working in hotels.

[cup-O-coffee]

There is not much of a way to tell when a liar is lying or telling a half lie or even any kind of truth... and since it is one of the factors of Thainess, this entire story could very well be for... who knows what?

Funny that one police publicity stunt never follows the standard of another police publicity stunt along the same lines.

Take all of those foreign workers on Koh Tao, who gave DNA samples. OK to do this at one place but not the other. I wonder how many were asked if they wanted to work there, or if the baboons keeping them were asked to cough up passports and work permits.

Funny that the police are so single-minded that they would more than likely give a bank robber a jaywalking ticket as he ran out of the bank, firing his gun, and then running across and not using the designated cross walk.

It really lends credit to my theory that they are incompetent, blundering fools when crapping about a crime scene investigation. Focusing on one thing and trampling everything else to get to that one thing.

That view is all I get from stories like this; incompetent, blundering fools, who show their single-minded approach to issues and are blind to everything else going on around them.

[LivinLOS]

Correct. It's illegal if carried out in a promiscuous manner. Otherwise if between consenting adults, it doesn't come within that Act. That is the beauty of the barfine and the massage parlour - nothing promiscuous.

Your talking enforcement and not law..

Its illegal.. This is why tea money is called tea money.. because the government wanted to tax whorehouses so they called them tea rooms and charged them tea money to operate..

And thats why its such comedy.. They have a law but no one wants to enforce it, they want to perform all kinds of mental gymnastics to pretend they dont have a law, that the law doesnt apply, that they dont need to enforce 'that one' and everything is fine.

Then why does it specifically state "carried out in a promiscuous manner" which implies that non-promiscuous prostitution (behind closed doors) is permitted under the law, and why are the separate references to penalties for underage prostitutes, again implying that for prostitutes 18 and over it is permitted? I do agree it's a grey area, hence the police have many ways of extracting their take!

The UK law is far clearer, with the act of prostitution itself being legal, but much of what surrounds it being against the law.

Promiscuous = the act of having sex with multiple partners.. It has nothing to do with behind closed doors or if its seen or not.

Care to explain how prostitution can be done in a non promiscuous manner ??

Or care to explain why various sex workers rights want it to be legalized ??

It is illegal.. The police simply choose not to enforce this law.. Because those businesses will be paying the police to operate. Or do you really think they dont make payments ?? If they do, what perhaps are those payments for ??

[brewsterbudgen]

Correct. It's illegal if carried out in a promiscuous manner. Otherwise if between consenting adults, it doesn't come within that Act. That is the beauty of the barfine and the massage parlour - nothing promiscuous.

Your talking enforcement and not law..

Its illegal.. This is why tea money is called tea money.. because the government wanted to tax whorehouses so they called them tea rooms and charged them tea money to operate..

And thats why its such comedy.. They have a law but no one wants to enforce it, they want to perform all kinds of mental gymnastics to pretend they dont have a law, that the law doesnt apply, that they dont need to enforce 'that one' and everything is fine.

Then why does it specifically state "carried out in a promiscuous manner" which implies that non-promiscuous prostitution (behind closed doors) is permitted under the law, and why are the separate references to penalties for underage prostitutes, again implying that for prostitutes 18 and over it is permitted? I do agree it's a grey area, hence the police have many ways of extracting their take!

The UK law is far clearer, with the act of prostitution itself being legal, but much of what surrounds it being against the law.

Promiscuous = the act of having sex with multiple partners.. It has nothing to do with behind closed doors or if its seen or not.

Care to explain how prostitution can be done in a non promiscuous manner ??

Or care to explain why various sex workers rights want it to be legalized ??

It is illegal.. The police simply choose not to enforce this law.. Because those businesses will be paying the police to operate. Or do you really think they dont make payments ?? If they do, what perhaps are those payments for ??

Paying a person for sex in a private capacity is not illegal.

Sure, many would like to see the prostitution opened up and fully legalised but I can't see that happening here, despite it being part of the culture.