Thai editorial: End to abuses in fishing industry LONG OVERDUE

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
End to abuses in fishing industry LONG OVERDUE

IIT HAS TAKEN DIRE THREATS OF FOREIGN TRADE SANCTIONS TO SHAKE THAILAND UP OVER THIS HORROR STORY. WE MUST RESPOND QUICKLY

BANGKOK: -- Given that Thailand's commercial fishing industry generates Bt30 billion annually, we would think that the authorities and those directly involved would do more to protect this precious source of revenue.

And yet they have long turned a blind eye to violations of human rights and even worse practices plaguing this slavery-like industry. Only now, with foreign governments threatening severe sanctions against Thailand unless the abuses stop, are the authorities beginning to act. And only now is the wider Thai public becoming fully aware of the severity of the wrongdoing.

It's clear now that fisheries owners and boat skippers have been taking disgraceful advantage of their employees as a way to cut production costs.

Foreign governments and rights organisations have thoroughly documented the abuses heaped on the lowly employees who man the nets and toil in the processing plants in Thailand, whom they describe as modern-day slaves.

It's an awful situation, and all of us - from the biggest corporation, to the border guard ignoring the trafficking of people from neighbouring countries, to the consumer at the dinner table - must share responsibility for it. The consequences for not doing so will be grave.

"As has been reported for years, the Thai fishing industry is rife with forced labour, both on the high seas and within seafood-processing and -packing plants," Mark Lagon, former State Department ambassador for trafficking in persons, told a US House Foreign Affairs subcommittee this week.

The White House is already authorised to impose sanctions that would bar Thai seafood from the US market.

Last month Thailand's Channel 3 and the Associated Press both reported on hundreds of fishermen who Thai skippers confined in cages on the Indonesian island of Benjina. The fishermen related that they had often been beaten by their supervisors and had worked at sea for years for little or no pay.

The government has sent C130 cargo plane to rescue them, but much more must be done if Thailand is to win back the support of major buyers in the US, Europe and elsewhere.

AP identified one of the fishermen rescued earlier from Benjina as Hlaing Min, 32, a Myanmar national. "I want to tell the [uS Congress] that, if I were to count all the skulls and bones from the fishermen who died, the sea would be full of Burmese bones," he was quoted as saying. "On behalf of all the fishermen here, I request that the US stop buying all fish from Thailand."

Hlaing Min and others who have found themselves in such a dire situation have the right to be bitter.

Bangkok policy-makers are debating the use of the controversial Section 44 of the interim constitution to improve the heinous state of the fishing industry. Section 44 deals directly with corruption, which is seen as the underlying problem in the abuse of fishing-industry workers.

Until the government takes bold action, Thailand stands accused of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which threatens to draw severe trade sanctions from the US and the European Union.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has placed the issue high on the national agenda, but we anxiously wait to see whether the actions taken will be enough to satisfy foreign observers.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengboon Na Ayudhaya has admitted that Thailand lacks adequate legislation to address the caging of fishermen in Indonesia, there being no punishment on the law books for those who act illegally beyond the country's territorial waters. The loophole, he said, underscores "Thailand's irresponsibility to the international community".

Closing the loophole will be a sound first step. There is much more to accomplish beyond that.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/End-to-abuses-in-fishing-industry-LONG-OVERDUE-30259098.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-01

[Plutojames88]

Western Countries don't consume Thai propaganda .

It's too little too late .

The way they attempt to manipulate using communist Chinese ""people"" control on the international and domestic community is laughable .

As recent as March 25th the advisors examining the Thai case says Sanctions should follow.

Plus it's an unelected ruler the international body are dealing with.....

For this reason alone , the Military running Thailand won't be afforded any concessions .

Certainly , not billions in trade they wish for....nope it's time to pay the Piper.

The American Congress recently were told about the appalling Thai record on slave labour .

Printing articles that use Chinese Propaganda methods like this to claim its fixed isn't going to bluff the real assessments taking place.

This one will be determined almost certainly against the Thais based on available evidence .

Which is that it deserves its current tier 3 level to continue ....and recommended sanctions should go ahead.

It's most certain that will occur.

Edited April 30, 2015 by Plutojames88

[Just1Voice]

Oh, don't worry Thailand. If the EU and the US ban all your wonderful fish products, China and Russia will happily step up to take over.

And, yes, I still believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.

[NongKhaiKid]

Another website carries a story with the headline that the PM begs for mercy then later the word sympathy is used.

The PM is quoted as saying LoS has been wrong about this for a long time so now it's up to the EU to show mercy which translates as we've done b....r all until now when our backs are to the wall. Standard Operating Procedure for LoS.

Wow, the Big D having to beg / plead !

[FangFerang]

Worst, to me, is the fallacy that "This problem is so big, we cannot even solve it with supreme executive power."

• I Wish I Had a Magic Wand: The fallacy of regretfully (and falsely) proclaiming oneself powerless to change a bad or objectionable situation.. E.g., "What can we do about high gas prices? As Secretary of Energy I wish I had a magic wand, but I don't." [shrug]

• Or, "No, you can't quit piano lessons. I wish I had a magic wand and could teach you piano overnight, but I don't, so like it or not, you have to keep on practicing." The parent, of course, ignores the possibility that the child may not want or need to learn piano. See also, TINA.

[wabothai]

says it all, excellent editorial.

When is boss fish head being held accountable, arrested , charged and put in jail?

Show your balls Prajuth, everybody wants to see action, we can do without your friday evening medecin.

[billd766]

says it all, excellent editorial.

When is boss fish head being held accountable, arrested , charged and put in jail?

Show your balls Prajuth, everybody wants to see action, we can do without your friday evening medecin.

How about when there is direct evidence and proof of the big bosses direct complicity?

Only then can you do something about it.

Only then can they be held accountable, charged in court, found guilty or not guilty and only then if they are found guilty can they be jailed

[Just1Voice]

A Thai boss of a fishing trawler giving a bonus or advance? Maybe in some alternate universe.

[Lupatria]

Another website carries a story with the headline that the PM begs for mercy then later the word sympathy is used.

The PM is quoted as saying LoS has been wrong about this for a long time so now it's up to the EU to show mercy which translates as we've done b....r all until now when our backs are to the wall. Standard Operating Procedure for LoS.

Wow, the Big D having to beg / plead !

Time for a new strategy if they don't want to eat rotten rice and rotten fish for the next decade:

Edited May 1, 2015 by Lupatria

[Laughing Gravy]

Well at last some truth. But hold on. It was this same paper saying for months that there was no issues or abuses in the fishing industry. Some big turn around that was. I suppose finally accepting there are problems is better than nothing but it seems that there is a daily fracas about something. If there was more transparency across all aspects of life here then they would not be in the poo, as they are now.

Please learn from this.

[wabothai]

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says it all, excellent editorial.

When is boss fish head being held accountable, arrested , charged and put in jail?

Show your balls Prajuth, everybody wants to see action, we can do without your friday evening medecin.

How about when there is direct evidence and proof of the big bosses direct complicity?

Only then can you do something about it.

Only then can they be held accountable, charged in court, found guilty or not guilty and only then if they are found guilty can they be jailed

yes, yes, mr Bild, we all know.