US TIP Report - 'Report on fishermen abuse hurts Thailand'

[webfact]

US TIP REPORT
'Report on fishermen abuse hurts Thailand'
THE NATION

Govt worries over status in US tips report despite bid to tackle human trafficking

BANGKOK: -- WHILE EXPRESSING confidence in the measures to combat human trafficking, the government yesterday admitted that fresh reports on forced workers being found on Thai trawlers in Indonesia could hurt Thailand when the United State's new Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report is released this year.

The US yesterday expressed concern over forced labourers being found in Indonesia's Ambon and Benjina islands and nearby islands, calling on the government to take significant efforts to protect them.

Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai conceded that reports on the issue by international and local news agencies had not helped Thailand in terms of the pending TIP report.

Furthermore, if the European Union also considered the use of the forced labourers a violation of the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing regulations, it would lead to repercussions on the fishery industry, he said.

The US State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said workers in the fishing industry, many of them migrants, were exploited at multiple points along the supply chain from harvesting to processing.

"And a significant - as it relates to Thailand, a significant portion - proportion of trafficking victims are found in the seafood industry," she said in a daily briefing.

"So for several years, the international community, including the United States, has expressed concern publicly - also directly, of course - over the forced labour of foreign migrants in the Thai fishing and on-land seafood industries. And we continue to call on the Thai Government to take significantly greater steps to protect foreign migrants in the fishing and shrimp industries and to punish those who are enslaving workers."

Asked if the recent media reports could significantly impact on the review of Thailand in the TIP report, Psaki said: "We don't make predictions like that. We do note concerns where we have them, and certainly the issue of fishing practices in Thailand has been noted in previous reports."

Previous media reports stated that Thai and Myanmar fishery workers were forced to work in harsh conditions on the water and some were detained on Indonesian islands. The seafood they catch was exported by Thailand, the reports said.

The authorities said they had put a lot of effort into trying to solve the problem and had rescued many of the abused workers and sent them home.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday met a rescue team at his office to instruct them to help the some 700 forced labourers in Indonesia.

He said he had no idea how the migrants ended up on the trawlers as all Thai trawlers were registered and checked in and out ports. The trawlers could also be traced by GPS, he said.

He said he would talk to the Indonesian government to discuss bring the workers back to Thailand as soon as possible.

It was reported that a group of 21 workers would arrive in the Kingdom this evening.

Don said he would ask the owners of the trawlers for information in order to map out necessary measure to tackle the issue.

"We are confident that our sincere efforts to tackle the problem will encourage the concerned agencies to work effectively as well as convince the international community to ease their measures against Thailand," he said.

Thailand hopes to convince Washington that its efforts over the past nine months since the last TIP's report was released were enough to upgrade the country from the TIP's tier three - the lowest rating.

The government reported to the US earlier that the implementation of five crucial strategies, the so-called 5Ps - policy and mechanisms, prosecution, prevention, protection, and partnership - had yielded good results.

Minister Don said the government was preparing a new report on the progress of combating human trafficking in Thailand and would submit it to the US this month.

Washington will have two months to review the report before announcing its TIP ratings in June.

Don said the government had to verify information contained in the media reports about the situation in Indonesia and consult with relevant parties in Washington as well as he EU over the IUU regulation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Report-on-fishermen-abuse-hurts-Thailand-30256843.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-27

[chooka]

Prayuth and his numbnuts think the rest of the world are idiots and would believe anything they say. They have tried lying and cover ups that would fool some thais but the world still knows what is going on.

Do you want to try and convince the world you are not full of <deleted> then let outsiders monitor openly what you are doing, this would show that you are genuine and sincere. The odd report from the dept of propaganda with no evidence attached might cut it in Thailand but not in the real world.

[NongKhaiKid]

if it hurts Thailand there's no better reason to lean on the media to stop reporting on the matter.

Oh what a pity, no control over the international media.

[chooka]

if it hurts Thailand there's no better reason to lean on the media to stop reporting on the matter.

Oh what a pity, no control over the international media.

I bet it is tearing him up inside that he can't send his people out to gather up the international journalists, blindfold them and place them up against the wall. I wouldn't be surprised if he started expelling all foreign correspondents from Thailand and banned all in future. Edited March 26, 2015 by chooka

[bruceybonus]

And yet more joy for Thailand in the news this morning!! Japan & S Korea have banned new charter and scheduled flights operated by Thai registered airlines, due to their inability to meet int standards!

The greed, ignorance & know it all attitude among people in power here is unreal

[Tokay]

Looks like it is time for the Thais to arrest more journalists and shoot every messenger they can find. Because THAT fixes things.

[retarius]

The US are looking for the slavers to be 'punished'....I have not read of a single arrest for slavery since the issue arose last year...despite hundreds of arrests for lese majests, gambling and so on. I do wonder where the priorities of the government lie.

[Bluespunk]

It's not the report that hurts Thailand.

The fact that slavery in the industry still exists is causing the damage.

[NongKhaiKid]

if it hurts Thailand there's no better reason to lean on the media to stop reporting on the matter.

Oh what a pity, no control over the international media.

I bet it is tearing him up inside that he can't send his people out to gather up the international journalists, blindfold them and place them up against the wall. I wouldn't be surprised if he started expelling all foreign correspondents from Thailand and banned all in future.

Didn't Mr. T expel some from the Far Eastern Economic Review so Prayuth has something to go on ?

It will build up and get to him and if not before the tipping point might be when he goes to the UN and faces an aggressive media which he can't control or bully.

He'll return home to rapturous reviews while likely being gutted by the international press and may decide to return the favour.

[Chris Lawrence]

So how is the pineapple business going?

There are probably more industries that need to be looked into, but the blind eye is more than likely looking into them. At least the international press can't be intimidated.

[Lupatria]

if it hurts Thailand there's no better reason to lean on the media to stop reporting on the matter.

Oh what a pity, no control over the international media.

I bet it is tearing him up inside that he can't send his people out to gather up the international journalists, blindfold them and place them up against the wall. I wouldn't be surprised if he started expelling all foreign correspondents from Thailand and banned all in future.

...and banned all in future.

You have no idea how realistic your assumption is. Ask journalist who recently applied for an accreditation...

[T_Dog]

It's not the report that hurts Thailand.

The fact that slavery in the industry still exists is causing the damage.

Trying to suppress future news on topics like this seems to show support of the practice. I would have expected a different reaction than this:

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1427268620&section=

[NeilSA1]

Prayuth and his numbnuts think the rest of the world are idiots and would believe anything they say. They have tried lying and cover ups that would fool some thais but the world still knows what is going on.

Do you want to try and convince the world you are not full of <deleted> then let outsiders monitor openly what you are doing, this would show that you are genuine and sincere. The odd report from the dept of propaganda with no evidence attached might cut it in Thailand but not in the real world.

Chooka - You continually run down the current government, regardless. Please, please tell me -

1/ Do you know how long this problem of human trafficking has existed?

2/ Did it just start in May last year?

3/ What remedial action was taken by other Thai governments, if any, and was it enforced?

[NeilSA1]

And yet more joy for Thailand in the news this morning!! Japan & S Korea have banned new charter and scheduled flights operated by Thai registered airlines, due to their inability to meet int standards!

The greed, ignorance & know it all attitude among people in power here is unreal

It is always difficult to get the latest correct news. The very next article, after this one, says -

"BANGKOK, 27 March 2015 (NNT) – The Transport Minister has confirmed that Japanese authorities will not be reducing the number of scheduled flights operated by Thai airliners, stressing that there will be no flight cancellations."

Obviously there must be truth in the fact that there is a problem with Thai registered airlines, unable to meet international standards - the deterioration surely must have developed over years and not just the last 10 months. The current government has a huge task ahead of them trying to sort out all these inherited problems.

[cloudhopper]

It's not the report that hurts Thailand.

The fact that slavery in the industry still exists is causing the damage.

Trying to suppress future news on topics like this seems to show support of the practice. I would have expected a different reaction than this:

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1427268620&section=

Well spotted and very illuminating; thanks for the link.

[Squeegee]

Prayuth and his numbnuts think the rest of the world are idiots and would believe anything they say. They have tried lying and cover ups that would fool some thais but the world still knows what is going on.

Do you want to try and convince the world you are not full of <deleted> then let outsiders monitor openly what you are doing, this would show that you are genuine and sincere. The odd report from the dept of propaganda with no evidence attached might cut it in Thailand but not in the real world.

Chooka - You continually run down the current government, regardless. Please, please tell me -

1/ Do you know how long this problem of human trafficking has existed?

2/ Did it just start in May last year?

3/ What remedial action was taken by other Thai governments, if any, and was it enforced?

Great logic: it's been going on for years and previous governments didn't do enough so let's not comment on the current government's 'efforts'. Otherwise, why are you asking completely irrelevant questions? Is it because you have a political bias or do you actually care about human suffering and injustice? Doesn't seem like it.

[ChrisY1]

I read this morning that Prayuth said they need to go after the vessel owners that held enforced workers......could be interesting if it really happens.....because just going after the vessels captain is meaningless without his boss being caught also.

[ChrisY1]

Prayuth and his numbnuts think the rest of the world are idiots and would believe anything they say. They have tried lying and cover ups that would fool some thais but the world still knows what is going on.

Do you want to try and convince the world you are not full of <deleted> then let outsiders monitor openly what you are doing, this would show that you are genuine and sincere. The odd report from the dept of propaganda with no evidence attached might cut it in Thailand but not in the real world.

Chooka - You continually run down the current government, regardless. Please, please tell me -

1/ Do you know how long this problem of human trafficking has existed?

2/ Did it just start in May last year?

3/ What remedial action was taken by other Thai governments, if any, and was it enforced?

Why are you asking such inane questions?

The whole world knows how long the suffering of fishermen on Thai boats has been going on.....don't you?

What the f##k does it matter today, what past governments did or did not do?......the big problem is right now....and it just so happens that a military, self appointed government has the chair......they have to act!

Edited March 27, 2015 by ChrisY1

[klauskunkel]

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan yesterday met a rescue team at his office to instruct them to help the some 700 forced labourers in Indonesia.

He said he had no idea how the migrants ended up on the trawlers as all Thai trawlers were registered and checked in and out ports. The trawlers could also be traced by GPS, he said.

However, after thinking just a little bit, and using The Force, he had a revelation that maybe the trawlers were met at sea by speedboats full of slaves..., but then, using his now awakened imagination, he dismissed that theory and said: they were beamed aboard by extraterrestrials, and this happened in international waters, so no laws were violated - eat this, America!

[aaacorp]

Prayout shoudl try to shoot all the US reporters...this man is a dumbass

[White Christmas13]

Have read this ?

http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/investigation-reveals-slave-link-to-supermarket-seafood-supply/story-fnkgdhrc-1227278957589

[Your Thainess]

Here we are talking about slavery, and these clowns are worried about their bloody image and fisheries profits. Despicable. I hope the US slams them in their report and it leads to sanctions/bans on seafood imports from Thailand. It's the only way they'll do anything about the problem. Hit em in their pockets.

[Strangebrew]

I noticed they asked for those fishermen back too Guess boats short handed.

[nahkit]

"Furthermore, if the European Union also considered the use of the forced labourers a violation of the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing regulations, it would lead to repercussions on the fishery industry, he said."

Can someone explain to me what illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing regulations are?

[Strangebrew]

Well the truth sometimes hurts

[DLock]

'Report on fishermen abuse hurts Thailand'

fixed.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I really like the fact that the government seems primarily concerned with how the latest news on this is going to impact their TIPS rating from the U.S. -- and only incidentally concerned that workers are being held in virtual slavery on Thai owned fishing trawlers.

[harryfrompattaya]

if it hurts Thailand there's no better reason to lean on the media to stop reporting on the matter.

Oh what a pity, no control over the international media.

You are right the international media ( all trouble makers ) shall be sued in Thai courts

[harryfrompattaya]

It's not the report that hurts Thailand.

The fact that slavery in the industry still exists is causing the damage.

I do not believe their slaves in that industry

Please anyone post did they ever see any.

I never saw one, while drinking in Pattaya

[trainman34014]

The World market can put a stop to all these practices very quickly if it wants to. Every Western Government, and indeed any Government on the Planet with morals could stop all seafood imports from Thailand with immediate effect until the problems are nullified and proven to be so. The problem is of course that in all those countries business people would be up in arms and threatening mass redundancies of staff etc etc leading to instability in those country's economies and Political establishments. Politicians and big Business Conglomerates have never, do never and will never, care about ''The People '' who are only seen as worker ants.