Army and police chiefs fly South to probe human trafficking in South

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Army and police chiefs fly South to probe human trafficking in South



BANGKOK: -- Army commander-in-chief Gen Udomdej Sitabutr and Royal Thai Police commissioner flied to the South today to follow up progress of human trafficking investigation at a detention camp and graveyard near the Malaysian border where 26 corpses were so far exhumed by Thai authorities.

Both went to Songkhla province separately after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha voiced grave concern and ordered authorities to probe crack down human traffickers drastically as the issue has now drawn the attention of international human rights groups.

Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Phumphanmuang said of the 26 corpse exhumed from graves, one was a woman.

He said preliminary examination showed these corpses had been buried from 15 days till over a year.

Some had traces of body assaults, he said and some might have died from sickness, he said.

However exact causes of deaths would be known after autopsies are conducted and their DNAs collected for subsequent identification.

Pol Gen Somyot said before noon today in Hat Yai that three persons were arrested in connection with human trafficking case in Padang Besar, while three others are on the arrest list.

He also said the detention camp located just a few hundred metres from a border police outpost, indicating that the border police must know what happened there.

This would be investigated and the border police could not avoid responsibility, he said.

Meanwhile local authorities and spiritual leader yesterday buried all the exhumed corpses in a mass grave in accordance with Muslim religion.

Six decomposed bodies are at Prince of Songkhla University hospital for autopsy.

Army chief Gen Udomdej said this morning before departure aboard a military aircraft that the prime minister considered the case a serious issue and vowed to eradicate human trafficking drastically.

He said he would first stop in Ranong province where Rohinya migrants would be smuggled in the first place before she being to other places in deep south.

He said human trafficking engaged both Thais and Malaysians but still could not yet say exactly if government officials are involved.

Meanwhile Nakhon Si Thammarat police questioned two Rohinya witnesses yesterday.

One was identified as Kuramia who is the uncle of a kidnapped victim Kazem, said to have been killed by human traffickers after Kuramia failed to pay additional ransom demanded by traffickers.

Another was identified Zofik, a Rohinya migrant.

Kuramia earlier told Nakhon Si Thammarat police that his nephew Kazem has been killed and his body might be buried in the graveyard in Padang Besar jungle of Sadao district of Songkhla.

He said a Rohinya human trafficking broker known as Noor demanded him to pay an additional 120,000 baht in exchange for the release of his nephew Kazem. He said he was earlier demanded to pay 120,000 baht but he could only collect 95,000 baht from relatives and friends and had already paid the broker.

After paying the ransom, Kazem was not freed and the broker Nor demanded 120,000 baht more, he said.

He later filed complaint with Nakhon Si Thammarat police who later arrested the broker Noor.

Noor later confessed that Kazem had died and buried at a detention camp at the Thai Malaysian border in Padang Besar.

Noor’s confession promoted joint operation with Songkhla police to look for the detention camp and later it was found about 200 metres from the Malaysian border. A large graveyard was also found.

Another Rohinya witness Zofik told Songkhla police via an interpreter that that he saw Kazem was beaten to death at the camp by Noor and other traffickers as he was also detained for ransom.

He said Noor ordered two men to bury Kazem but could not identify exact burial.

He said he was freed after his mother sold her farmland to pay ransom to the traffickers.

He told police that he decided to tell police after he learned that Kuramia had lodged complaint with the police that he was cheated by the broker.

Zofik said about 700-800 Rohinya migrants were detained in the camp but all had escaped across the border to Malaysia which is 200 metres away.

He said human traffickers used sticks to beat their victims and sometimes also shot them.

About 20 have died from beatings, shootings and from sickness, he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-and-police-chiefs-fly-south-to-probe-human-trafficking-in-south


-- Thai PBS 2015-05-04

[dcutman]

He also said the detention camp located just a few hundred metres from a border police outpost, indicating that the border police must know what happened there.

This to most people would be shocking, but if you live or travel here often, you would be shocked if it was in any way different.

[NeverSure]

"Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha voiced grave concern"

[Suffinator]

He also said the detention camp located just a few hundred metres from a border police outpost, indicating that the border police must know what happened there.

No shit Sherlock.

Let's just see how many top officials and senior army personnel are arrest. Chances are all the minions will be bagged whilst the real players are left to continue with their atrocities when things quieten down a bit.

Army chief Gen Udomdej said this morning before departure aboard a military aircraft that the prime minister considered the case a serious issue and vowed to eradicate human trafficking drastically.

You don't eradicate something drastically ... you either reduce it drastically or eradicate it ... the later should be the goal but we all know where there's vast amounts of money their are pigs at the trough no matter how disgusting the food is.

He said human trafficking engaged both Thais and Malaysians but still could not yet say exactly if government officials are involved.

Obviously he's in the wrong job because the locals know exactly whose involved and high ranking army, navy and government officials have on several occasions been said to be involved. Like most things here they will do their best to cover it up or at least prevent any of their buddies from taking the fall.

Sanctions need imposing on Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia ... time to squeeze them into submission.

[Oziex1]

So you don't know who's involved, so let the UN investigators in, they will find out and tell you.

You do want to find out don't you.

[Muirton]

"Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha voiced grave concern"

Indeed. Concern that the graves were detected, yes?

[soalbundy]

Oh dear, ''it's drawn the attention of international human rights groups'' not a good time for that now is it, you might be on tier 4 soon, i know that there isn't a tier 4 but they might make one especially for Thailand now

[Lupatria]

After reading the below statement I believe the arrival of the two will add up to create a disaster Koh Tao style:

Assistant National Police Commissioner General Jarumporn Suramanee yesterday said most bodies exhumed from the campsite were already skeletons and only six were decaying remains.

"There were no traces of injury. So, we believe many might have died of disease or malnutrition," he said.

The real shock for me was, when I showed the news to some Myanmar workers at the renovation site of my apartment complex on my computer, their Thai foreman said there were no Thais responsible or even involved in this. The Burmese just smiled and got back to work...