Thai govt defends its anti-human trafficking record

[webfact]

Government defends its anti-human trafficking record
THE NATION,
REUTERS

BANGKOK: -- THE FOREIGN Ministry yesterday expressed its disappointment over a recent report from the London-based Environment Justice Foundation (EJF), which said Bangkok's efforts to combat human trafficking were "wholly inadequate".

"EJF ignored positive efforts of the government in combating human trafficking," the ministry said.

The government over the past year has suppressed and prevented the trafficking as well as provide assistance to the victims, the ministry insisted. Last year, the authorities prosecuted 156 firms found to be violating the labour law, and arrested 107 brokers involved in trafficking migrants, it said.

The US State Department last year downgraded Thailand to its "Tier 3" list of worst offenders - alongside 22 other nations including North Korea, Iran and Central African Republic - in its annual ranking of countries by their counter-trafficking efforts.

The government stepped up some measures since then to show its commitment to combat the trafficking. The government has punished corrupt officials and those involved in the trafficking, the ministry's statement said.

The Fishery Department has set up 28 inspection spots in 22 coastal provinces to inspect the in-out fishery trawlers for trafficked labour, it said. The Social Welfare and Human Security Ministry has programs to help affected persons, it said.

However, EJF said on Tuesday that Thailand was still failing to prevent trafficking and rights abuses in the fishing industry. "Nothing that we have seen or heard in the last year indicates that Thailand has taken meaningful action to address the root causes of trafficking and abuse," EJF executive director Steve Trent said in a statement. "The Thai government must take clear, significant and sustained steps to prevent and suppress human trafficking in the fishing industry."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Government-defends-its-anti-human-trafficking-reco-30254496.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-20

[Somtamnication]

Truth hurts!

[redandyellow]

I wonder what's worse, being frequently called out for alleged human trafficking violations, or being lumped in with those winners North Korea and Iran..

The latter one would presume..

Signed,

Same poop, different pile

[FireMedic]

Imagine if a person was 400lbs, drinks 20 beers, and smokes 2 packs a day. The doctor tells him he's obese and has to make lifestyle changes or else he will die soon. A year later, another doctor checks him and the only thing the man has done is smoke 1 less cigarette a day. Then the man "disappointed" with what the other doctor has to say.

He's the only person responsible for his condition. No one else is to blame.

[ExPratt]

They are certainly getting caned on every subject in the worlds serious press

Watch the trafficking of illegal workers go even further up once the good old PRC start building Mega Railway projects

[ExPratt]

Funnily enough there is an article In an English Language Daily Business section about a shortage of labour that needs to filled by "Migrant Labour" in the future For the electronics industry 430,000 , Food and beverage 1.3 million and 850,000 in the textile industry. At the present time they are 125-000 short of what is needed. So reducing Human trafficking isn't going to be an easy thing to do when the demand for manpower is so high

[cardinalblue]

Thailand is more concerned about the public criticism than the topic...

Always remain a third world country until it changes its attitude constructive criticism...

Needs to grow up as a society in a global world...

Brad

Edited February 20, 2015 by cardinalblue

[Bob12345]

Funnily enough there is an article In an English Language Daily Business section about a shortage of labour that needs to filled by "Migrant Labour" in the future For the electronics industry 430,000 , Food and beverage 1.3 million and 850,000 in the textile industry. At the present time they are 125-000 short of what is needed. So reducing Human trafficking isn't going to be an easy thing to do when the demand for manpower is so high

They could consider opening the borders a bit so foreigners can come here to work legally and to pay taxes on their earnings.

But I guess Thailand is not ready for that yet.

[ExPratt]

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Funnily enough there is an article In an English Language Daily Business section about a shortage of labour that needs to filled by "Migrant Labour" in the future For the electronics industry 430,000 , Food and beverage 1.3 million and 850,000 in the textile industry. At the present time they are 125-000 short of what is needed. So reducing Human trafficking isn't going to be an easy thing to do when the demand for manpower is so high

They could consider opening the borders a bit so foreigners can come here to work legally and to pay taxes on their earnings.

But I guess Thailand is not ready for that yet.

Yep of course, but business makes more money from illegal foreign (Cheap Labour)Not paying Tax, Insurance,Holiday money , sick money saves them a fortune and the fines for doing so are so minuscule that they still make money if they are caught. Has a massive impact of Safety as well, Foreign workers die , no on cares after a week

[cumgranosalum]

It's bad enough not admitting your faults, but trying to give the impression that everything is OK, would seem to me to be downright dishonest.

[cumgranosalum]

It is also a sad reflection on the government that when they do move on human trafficking, it is never off their own bat, but only after someone else has pointed out what is going on.

This of course is at least in part due to the fact that some local officials are invariably caught up in the stuff in the first place.

[swifty5x5]

I seen a documentary on trafficking in the fishing industry. When the Thai police boarded the vesell they only talked to the Thai captin, who said everything is fine, because everyone else was Burmese and of course none of the Thai's could talk to them.

[Shaunduhpostman]

Guardian article with detail on the EJF report on Thailand's failure to improve the fishing boat slavery issue:

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/feb/18/thailand-failing-tackle-fishing-industry-slavery

[MobileContent]

Some improvement might has been done but it seems to be cosmetic changes.

Maybe in 3 years their will be positive reports

[Srikcir]

"The government over the past year ..."

The government must make sustained efforts to stop trafficking. The Junta came to power 8 months ago and formed the NLA 5 months ago. Most of its anti-trafficking efforts have happened in the last couple months. That is hardly a sustained effort unless the Junta is trying to claim credit for previous governments' efforts, howevere minimally that may be.

The USA waited years before it finally put Thailand on Tier 3. It's not going to reverse that decision for a short-term flurry of efforts that seem more publicity stunts than reflective of any sustainable policy.

Some ask why should Thailand care about the USA, shouldn't the USA stay out of Thailand's internal affairs? It's about money - what Thailand makes in exports to the US. Until Thailand is willing to abandon that market, it must be sensitve to the needs of its customer. Unfortunately for Thailand, the Junta's current anti-American propoganda over USA's criticsm of the Junta's suppression of democracy, human rights and liberties in Thailand will no doubt strain USA's patience in changing Thailand from Tier 3.

[ExPratt]

Thailand has made wholly inadequate progress in its efforts to eliminate human trafficking in its multi-billion dollar fishing industry, and has failed to combat both endemic corruption and the involvement of state officials in trafficking despite repeated promises to do so, a rights group claims.

Trafficking victims are still vulnerable to abuse and attack in Thai government shelters, while government inspections of fishing vessels consistently fail to identify abuse or perpetrators of abuse, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) says in a briefing paper, Broken Promises (pdf)

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/feb/18/thailand-failing-tackle-fishing-industry-slavery

[phrisco17]

Funnily enough there is an article In an English Language Daily Business section about a shortage of labour that needs to filled by "Migrant Labour" in the future For the electronics industry 430,000 , Food and beverage 1.3 million and 850,000 in the textile industry. At the present time they are 125-000 short of what is needed. So reducing Human trafficking isn't going to be an easy thing to do when the demand for manpower is so high

They could consider opening the borders a bit so foreigners can come here to work legally and to pay taxes on their earnings.

But I guess Thailand is not ready for that yet.

Close most of the markets and street venders and there would be plenty of labor available. Most of the lazies prefer to work only a few hours a day and only a few days a week. Thainess at its best!!!

[cumgranosalum]

Defending the indefensible - veery characteristic of a dictatorship?

[John Kane]

The entire world is being dragged around by its nose because of the nexus of prudish American culture, radical American feminists, and the American religious right. For Americans trafficking is about sex. Trafficking is routinely confused with willing prostitution. Labor is secondary. Thailand is on the right track with better regulation of the fishing industry and other labor trafficking issues. Trafficking is about population increases and lack of unskilled jobs. Countries have to stand up to American's understanding of trafficking only as a criminal justice issue or they will find themselves on the wrong side of history as the villains, not the good guys. Trafficking is a migration issue and must be dealt with in that way.

[Emster23]

"The government has punished corrupt officials and those involved in the trafficking"... if they happen to be aligned to deposed previous government. Purges made to look like cleaning up corruption, trafficking, whatever.

[Alwyn]

"EJF ignored positive efforts of the government in combating human trafficking," the ministry said. Why would the EJF ignore anything? The truth is that they didn't ignore anything but what's been done just isn't enough. The Junta should stop playing "pass the turd" and accept responsibility for their actions or lack of actions.

[toybits]

This reminds me of the phrase "Lipstick on a Pig".

[Lee4Life]

Funnily enough there is an article In an English Language Daily Business section about a shortage of labour that needs to filled by "Migrant Labour" in the future For the electronics industry 430,000 , Food and beverage 1.3 million and 850,000 in the textile industry. At the present time they are 125-000 short of what is needed. So reducing Human trafficking isn't going to be an easy thing to do when the demand for manpower is so high

Is most human trafficking here really to fill jobs in textile and beverage factories?

[ExPratt]

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Funnily enough there is an article In an English Language Daily Business section about a shortage of labour that needs to filled by "Migrant Labour" in the future For the electronics industry 430,000 , Food and beverage 1.3 million and 850,000 in the textile industry. At the present time they are 125-000 short of what is needed. So reducing Human trafficking isn't going to be an easy thing to do when the demand for manpower is so high

Is most human trafficking here really to fill jobs in textile and beverage factories?

Not at the moment , but if they have a labour shortage its going to be more lucrative for trafficers

[Lee4Life]

The entire world is being dragged around by its nose because of the nexus of prudish American culture, radical American feminists, and the American religious right. For Americans trafficking is about sex. Trafficking is routinely confused with willing prostitution. Labor is secondary. Thailand is on the right track with better regulation of the fishing industry and other labor trafficking issues. Trafficking is about population increases and lack of unskilled jobs. Countries have to stand up to American's understanding of trafficking only as a criminal justice issue or they will find themselves on the wrong side of history as the villains, not the good guys. Trafficking is a migration issue and must be dealt with in that way.

Really? The article says that it is a European Trafficking watch organization that has the Thai Government Official upset, and you are going to go on about the American Government?

The term "human trafficking" refers to humans being sold by someone...not to humans selling themselves.

[tif]

Close most of the markets and street venders and there would be plenty of labor available. Most of the lazies prefer to work only a few hours a day and only a few days a week. Thainess at its best!!!

My God, what a stupid ignorant hateful comment. how about if you were faced with a 12 hour work day with 1 day off per month at 300 baht a day (if you're employer actually paid the minimum wage). There's a very good reason there are so many street vendors (do learn to spell) in SE Asia, the prospect of a lifetime of grinding poverty or trying one's had at entrepreneurship, what would you choose you self satisfied @ss.

[Bluespunk]

Seems you can defend the indefensible.

[Torrens54]

So just WHO are the Wise Men/Women of this August body, the EJF?

When was their "investigation" carried out and by whom?

There are many other questions and one should obtain a lot more information about the EJF and who hides behind its doors, before joining the chorus of Government Bashing. Look around you, be honest, Thailand is doing very well under the current Government, despite the constant abuse from the Corrupt and their sympathizers.

[FangFerang]

The Nation seems to be selective with quotes from the press conference witnessed by more than four Thai newspapers. The actual quote was this : "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.(emphasis mine)

This quote shows Mr Sek with both feet in his mouth, and bombastic blathering to boot. "Thailand's efficient efforts". Really. Utter gall and mendacity are in evidence, as well as a prim self-love without justification.

[FangFerang]

So just WHO are the Wise Men/Women of this August body, the EJF?

When was their "investigation" carried out and by whom?

There are many other questions and one should obtain a lot more information about the EJF and who hides behind its doors, before joining the chorus of Government Bashing. Look around you, be honest, Thailand is doing very well under the current Government, despite the constant abuse from the Corrupt and their sympathizers.

I'm going to buy you a nice fruit basket.