Thailand 'disappointed' with British NGO for not seeing anti-human trafficking progress

[webfact]

Thailand 'disappointed' with British NGO for not seeing anti-human trafficking progress
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Feb 19 -- Sek Wannamethee, spokesman of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed disappointment with Britain's Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) which reported Tuesday that Thailand has made no progress in tackling human trafficking.

Mr Sek, the Ministry's Information Department director general, said that the UK-based foundation ignored Thailand's serious efforts to suppress and prevent human trafficking.

'Broken Promises,' the report released this by the London-based EJF, says that Thailand has not sufficiently improved its efforts to fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and recommend that the country should remain Tier 3 Watch List of the US Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report in 2015.

The briefing paper reviews progress made by the Thai government to prevent and suppress human trafficking in the fishing industry.

Thailand was downgraded to the lowest level in the TIP report in June 2014.

The EJF intended to attack Thailand and turned a blind eye to the Thai government's efficient efforts and development in combating and preventing human trafficking and rescuing victims, Mr Sek said.

In 2014, the Labour Ministry took legal action against 156 job brokerage firms that violated the labour law and 107 other firms would face similar action, Mr Sek cited.

Also in 2014, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security systematically identified victims of human trafficking and this year the Labour Ministry and the Department of Fisheries were checking fishing boats in 22 coastal provinces, Mr Sek said.

"The Thai government [has increased] clear and strict measures to eliminate corruption and punish [corrupt] government officials," he said.

"The government handles [the] solution to human trafficking as an urgent national agenda and allocates budgets and personnel to revamp the whole system of human trafficking solution. Relevant organizations are working hard to produce concrete results," Mr Sek said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2015-02-19

[Bluespunk]

"Mr Sek, the Ministry's Information Department director general, said that the UK-based foundation ignored Thailand's serious efforts to suppress and prevent human trafficking."

Actions speak louder than words.

The title "broken promises" says it all.

[kingalfred]

Dissappointed because? Facts show what?

[Anthony5]

Time for Mark Kent for an attitude adjustment.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Anthony5

[bim]

What has it got to do with the UK. London is one of biggest human trafficking cities on earth. Look closer to home. Thailand should produce a report on the UK.

[Strangebrew]

Simple want to show progress shut down all suspected dealers in it. Jail the heads to get to kingpins then take them down. By doing that you look as if your doing something. Until then your Third world and will remain third world.

[iReason]

"Thailand has made no progress in tackling human trafficking."

"Thailand has not sufficiently improved its efforts to fully comply with minimum standards"

But we have committies. Even sub-committies. And briefing papers.

"The EJF intended to attack Thailand"

Right.

It's all the EJF's fault.

"turned a blind eye"

The irony.

"Relevant organizations are working hard to produce concrete results," Mr Sek said.

Apparently, not hard enough.

Next up: The U.N.

[Briggsy]

Attack the messenger.

[Bluespunk]

What has it got to do with the UK. London is one of biggest human trafficking cities on earth. Look closer to home. Thailand should produce a report on the UK.

They probably do but it doesn't make the news. Possibly because the UK govt is actually doing something about it rather than paying lip service to doing so.

[TheDiva]

What has it got to do with the UK. London is one of biggest human trafficking cities on earth. Look closer to home. Thailand should produce a report on the UK.

Here we go, more faux nationalism by proxy. Perhaps it escaped your notice that the UK, whilst not exactly paragons of virtue in the Human Trafficking stakes, are regarded as a Tier 1 country whereas Thailand is Tier 3.

That means Thailand does not fully comply with the minimum standards and are (sic) not making significant efforts to do so.

Edited February 19, 2015 by TheDiva

[Briggsy]

bim

This was not a UK government but a report produced by an NGO (that means non-governmental organisation).

[Tatsujin]

Heads in the sand. Still. Doesn't matter who's in charge.

[Reigntax]

It's hard to see any action when to date it has all just been talk.

There are two distinct groups of leaders, those who talk about what they are going to do on the basis of receiving premature credit for that which they have no intention of doing and the second group, who don't talk, get on, do the job, don't seek publicity, don't make promises or false statements but know they did the best possible.

Unfortunately, Thailand is full of the former but in desperate need of the later!

[wow64]

Looks like the EJF needs an "attitude adjustment".

[JoeLing]

It's hard to see any action when to date it has all just been talk.

There are two distinct groups of leaders, those who talk about what they are going to do on the basis of receiving premature credit for that which they have no intention of doing and the second group, who don't talk, get on, do the job, don't seek publicity, don't make promises or false statements but know they did the best possible.

Unfortunately, Thailand is full of the former but in desperate need of the later!

"those who talk about what they are going to do on the basis of receiving premature credit for that which they have no intention of doing"

isn't that what politicians do all over the world?

I'm pretty sure, if there is someone who:

"don't talk, get on, do the job, don't seek publicity, don't make promises or false statements"

then it's not a politician.

[Suffinator]

Mr Sek, the Ministry's Information Department director general, said that the UK-based foundation ignored Thailand's serious efforts to suppress and prevent human trafficking.

I guess Mr Sek doesn't quite grasp the concept that rhetoric is not considered a useful advancement and that what is needed is measurable action.

The EJF intended to attack Thailand and turned a blind eye to the Thai government's efficient efforts and development in combating and preventing human trafficking and rescuing victims, Mr Sek said.

Ah yes, when things don't go the way you like it cry like a baby, throw your dummy out the pram and blame everyone else. Pure Thainess

I'm afraid Thailand is a LONG way off of getting any reduction in T3.

[FangFerang]

"The EJF intended to attack Thailand and turned a blind eye to the Thai government's efficient efforts and development in combating and preventing human trafficking and rescuing victims, Mr Sek said."

In translation at ability level: "We no like message. Speaker hate Thainess."

"In 2014, the Labour Ministry took legal action against 156 job brokerage firms that violated the labour law and 107 other firms would face similar action, Mr Sek cited."

In translation at ability level: "We tell them stop. They no stop, not our fault."

[Baerboxer]

As a side issue, anyone ever heard of this NGO before?

Their website seems the usual collection of celebrity yuppies, models, pop stars, artists that usually want to be seen as "socially minded and responsible" whilst sipping champagne in the back of their limos - "doesn't everyone darling".

Sorry to be cynical, but the not for profit 'aid" and social responsibility sector has become very profitable for some.

How long did they spend in Thailand researching and checking their information?

Are they investigating countries with far worse records than Thailand - India, Bangladesh and China spring to mind?

I'm not suggesting they're wrong, or right. Just wondering why they've not commented before.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Baerboxer

[ChaangNoi]

From what I have seem Thailand has improved on this issue. I'm not going to say they are anywhere close to perfect but they do seem to be really trying to move in the direction that the west wants them to move.

[klauskunkel]

Damn those British NGOs, they just wont take any brown envelopes...

[upena]

Thailand needs to learn that human trafficking is in more than just the fishing industry. Have the MoFA take a walk down Sukhumvit Road one night.

[bim]

bim

This was not a UK government but a report produced by an NGO (that means non-governmental organisation).

OK then lets see there report on the UK. Its a UK organisation. So guess they wont

[bim]

What has it got to do with the UK. London is one of biggest human trafficking cities on earth. Look closer to home. Thailand should produce a report on the UK.

Here we go, more faux nationalism by proxy. Perhaps it escaped your notice that the UK, whilst not exactly paragons of virtue in the Human Trafficking stakes, are regarded as a Tier 1 country whereas Thailand is Tier 3.

That means Thailand does not fully comply with the minimum standards and are (sic) not making significant efforts to do so.

Neither does the UK. And they have no excuse. Im a brit by the way

[Alwyn]

What has it got to do with the UK. London is one of biggest human trafficking cities on earth. Look closer to home. Thailand should produce a report on the UK.

The first thing is not London making the report, it's an NGO report. Second thing is the proliferation of "slave labour" is coming from Eastern Europe, all since the UK was soppy enough to open the borders up as ordered by the EU. But more importantly, the UK is actively doing something about it! There ia huge police anti-trafficking unit in London, there is advertising on the television on a daily basis to make people aware of it. Because of the pro-active efforts (which are very successful, just google it) of the authoirties and not just lame promises, the UK is tier on and Thailand remains on tier three. I'd be intyerested to know where your origin is? You seem to have a strong dislike for the UK so I'm guessing you're not British...

[Squeegee]

Thailand needs to learn that human trafficking is in more than just the fishing industry. Have the MoFA take a walk down Sukhumvit Road one night.

Yes.

Sek Wannamethee take a walk past every BTS station and tell us those women with babies are here legally. This is what the world sees of your country.

How are people, apparently so poor they are begging, able to enter your country? Who let's them in, Mr Sek? Why do your own 'police' not remove them, Mr Sek?

Come on, Mr Sek, don't just speak with your mouth, show us those women's legal status and prove no Thais are making money off them.

You can't do it can you?

Right in the center of your number 1 city, "hub" of travelers of the world Thais do not ACT, only people like you speaking a lot with little to back yourself up.

Can you PROVE "The EJF intended to attack Thailand"?

Of course you can't, and that's why nobody takes your country seriously when Thai pooyai open their mouths.

Edited February 19, 2015 by Squeegee

[chainarong]

Thailand's track record over the past 35 years hasn't changed much , there has been some progress but mainly in telling B/S as the medial clamour for news , they seem sometimes to be making inroads then you get another breakout like in Tak the other day, it is never ending, end of story.

[iReason]

As a side issue, anyone ever heard of this NGO before?

Their website seems the usual collection of celebrity yuppies, models, pop stars, artists that usually want to be seen as "socially minded and responsible" whilst sipping champagne in the back of their limos - "doesn't everyone darling".

Sorry to be cynical, but the not for profit 'aid" and social responsibility sector has become very profitable for some.

How long did they spend in Thailand researching and checking their information?

Are they investigating countries with far worse records than Thailand - India, Bangladesh and China spring to mind?

I'm not suggesting they're wrong, or right. Just wondering why they've not commented before.

But you are suggesting they are the;

"usual collection of celebrity yuppies, models, pop stars, artists that usually want to be seen as "socially minded and responsible" whilst sipping champagne in the back of their limos - "doesn't everyone darling".

On what information do you base your broad brush claims?

As for your other questions, that would be up to your own research.

Rather than smearing them with innuendo and hyperbole as a start.

[Lupatria]

Boring article. We all know by now they're disappointed whenever it's not going the Thai way.

[assayer]

What has it got to do with the UK. London is one of biggest human trafficking cities on earth. Look closer to home. Thailand should produce a report on the UK.

If you rub enough stove black on the UK you can say "look at the pot calling the kettle black" huh bim ??

[LuckyLew]

Thailand is making great progress .... the are getting better at hiding it

As long as money is there to be made the trafficking will continue

Cannot see Thailand caring what other countries think

Thailand reacts only after the fact