Fresh horror HAUNTS Thailand's TIP upgrade bid

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Fresh horror HAUNTS Thailand's TIP upgrade bid

PRAYUT'S PLEDGE TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS BEEN DIVERTED INTO A PUBLIC RELATIONS EXERCISE

BANGKOK: -- The discovery of 26 corpses of what are believed to be Muslim Rohingya migrants threatens to sink Thailand's already dismal reputation on human trafficking even further.

With the United States currently reviewing its annual report on Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the grisly find has left the Thai military regime struggling to convince the international community it is doing enough to combat the trafficking.

The mass grave - thought to contain the bodies of stateless people from the Myanmar-Bangladesh border - was found on a hilltop in the southern border province of Songkhla last week.

The bodies were discovered at a "holding area", where migrants were kept before being sneaked across the porous border into Malaysia. While the cause of the deaths is not yet clear, the police chief described the site as a "virtual prison camp", which appeared to have been abandoned just days before its discovery.

Its secrets would likely have been buried forever had one "prisoner" not escaped and told his story to police. But that story has raised even more questions over the country's handling of trafficking. The major question is how traffickers managed to build this holding camp (and perhaps others) in Songkhla. How did they hide so many people on a hilltop without their activities being noticed by the authorities? The hills in the border region between Songkhla's Sadao district and Malaysia’s Pedang Besar are notorious for their trafficking trails. Every Thai border official who works in this area knows about them.

The lone survivor said he had heard that more than 500 migrants had been killed in the holding areas along the border. The recently established trafficking investigation team says there is at least one more camp in the area where the mass grave was discovered. Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's

grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

Difficulties managing political transition in the capital are no longer an excuse for the authorities' failure to act on this problem. Thailand has been under the international microscope over human trafficking for years now. The country was downgraded to the lowest tier in the annual US TIP report last year. This year's report is due in the next couple of months.

The military-backed government, whose rulers cited the threat of civil war and the need for reform as reasons for ousting an elected administration last May, claims it is working hard to end the trafficking.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has threatened officials caught aiding traffickers with tough punishment. His government set up a committee to combat trafficking last year after the TIP downgrade. But rather than ordering concrete action, the committee has mostly been busy with diplomacy and preparing information updates for Washington in a bid to get Thailand's TIP status upgraded.

Foreign Ministry officials have been striving to convince the international community of Thailand's "good intentions" in the fight against trafficking. Meanwhile authorities and security officials tasked with actually tackling the problem mostly stand idle.

When they have acted, it has been to arrest the victims rather than traffickers. None of the major trafficking syndicates has been rooted out in the months since Prayut pledged serious action. Instead, Prayut's government and his armed forces have maintained a stance of intimidation towards news media that report on the issue.

To turn his words into action that yields results, the prime minister must determine whether the officials tasked with tackling trafficking are doing their job. Public relations must take a back seat until Thailand can actually show real gains in the battle against the trafficking of people.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Fresh-horror-HAUNTS-Thailands-TIP-upgrade-bid-30259337.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-05

[redandyellow]

I wonder if we now have a grim enough story for the international community to get tough on countries who allow this atrocity to continue.

Oh Sorry - I was talking in my sleep..

It was a long night on the old back...

Those Triple D's got quite the workout..

[redandyellow]

Thai Authorities sure know how talk the talk. Yakety Yak Yakety Yak..

Until it all dies down again..

Walking the talk would be a pleasant change,

As pleasant as naturally big knockers on an otherwise slim Thai woman

[aussieinthailand]

AT LAST,,, THE TRUTH IS FINALY STARTING TO COME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Thailand has been doing the usual, playing politics instead of having a real crack at tackling the issue, worried about FACE and the loss of income instead of the plight of the poor and vulnerable souls that are simply a pay cheque, and a public thorn in the side of the country, and the disgusting truth that is Thailand's apathy and indifference to the people that now lay dead and still being held for ransom.

11 months now the PM has been playing politics and the issue is getting worse each time it rears it's ugly head, Now this junta has a real chance at going down in history for a few right reasons or will it be just as pathetic as the last 18 that precede it, how's this going to play out? with the victims arrested as the usual? a few token heads to roll? or a fairdinkum no pulling punches go at dealing with the issue no matter who and how high it goes???

[thesetat2013]

Wow does this writer like to twist the facts so much.

How can the USA see anything is happening with human trafficking when nothing is done until it is too late? If the polife had been tipped and did nothing then they should have their finances investigated for bribes being paid to them and fired for failing to do their jobs. Then, only small fry are arrested and others are transferred?

Also, they keep quoting how P ousted the elected politicians to take over when in fact YL had resigned and was already past the time frame for 90 days as interim PM yet she refused to let go of that power. P only ousted a person who was refusing to stop her illegal hold onto power in Thailand.

[clockman]

Apply sanctions, hit them in the pocket. The only thing that they love, Is money! The police and military are involved in this trade. It will take generations to change Thai society.

[BSJ]

The problem with the border is there are only half the border patrol guards there were years ago but the same number of criminals.

[Robby nz]

The way this is being portrayed is that its solely Thailand's problem which it is not as Thailand is only a very small part in an international operation run from and by other countries.

These crooks are using Thailand as a staging point in their human trafficking operation and this needs to be stopped, but to stop the whole thing needs concerted international effort at both ends of the chain.

Removing the link in the chain that is Thailand with no other action will not stop another link being inserted and the trade carried on.

[Strangebrew]

Good news for Thailand the US will announce a New tier on human trafficking and Thailand will be first placed on it tier 8 specially reserved for idiots and clueless. With it comes free sanctions on trade, military help, But bright side can always go to your buddies China and Russia For handouts and advice on how to run a country I hear both do a great job.

[Plutojames88]

Regardless , Thailand was always going to stay at the very worst level for Human rights abuses...tier 3 .

This just confirms why it should, and raises more questions as to how wide spread it is.

Sanctions and bans on its Seafood will go some way to helping solve the problem.

But the Thais will seek other markets , less lucrative but uncaring as to the products labour source.

The article ( even a Thai publication) points out the knowledge of its existence was probable .

And the PM would be less than creditable in denying this.

I hope the International community give up watching slight of hand politics and just hammer the Thai economy with every sanction available .

It should cut all ties diplomatically until democracy of a true nature is restored.

Let the suffering cause them to take pause and stop digesting lies at breakfast about things being done and propaganda TV .

If they want to try North Korean dark age rule .

Give it to them.

Let the Chinese swallow them up.

Be done with their BS

Let them eat grass and learn .

[oneday]

"...The major question is how traffickers managed to build this holding camp (and perhaps others) in Songkhla. How did they hide so many people on a hilltop without their activities being noticed by the authorities?..."

Incredible simple answer to this questions...corrupt local officials taking bribes and turning a blind eye.

[soalbundy]

The problem with the border is there are only half the border patrol guards there were years ago but the same number of criminals.

I thought the boarder patrol guards were the criminals

[yakyai]

In a rational world, I'd say that murder in the course of trafficking would be one of the very few cases in which the death penalty would be appropriate. Basically, murder for money is the clearest case of premeditation and while I have grave doubts about the other possible circumstances for capital punishment, this one seems pretty clear to me. Same with fleet operators who use slaves and kill them rather than pay. And for officials caught facilitating this (conspiracy). However, in Thailand, I would worry that it would be applied unfairly and to those without a political constituency. What on earth can be done when human slavery and murder is business as usual? Really shocking.

[Suffinator]

PRAYUT'S PLEDGE TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS BEEN DIVERTED INTO A PUBLIC RELATIONS EXERCISE ... which in plain English translates as ... Prayut's pledge to do everything in his power to divert attention away from human trafficking and murder where officials are making vast sums of money ... aka sweeping it under the carpet.

There is no possible way the US could justify lifting T3. If there was such a things as T10 Thailand should be on the list.

To turn his words into action that yields results, the prime minister must determine whether the officials tasked with tackling trafficking are doing their job.

How smart do you need to be to determine that the officials are NOT doing their jobs? Duh! The question is ... how many officials are involved in profiteering from human trafficking and murder.

This current situation is all over the international news and the world is beginning to see just how despicable Thailand is and the disgusting level Thais will stoop to in order to make money.

I for one will never again step foot on Thai soil ... I just couldn't live with myself if I knew my money was ultimately fueling just a vile country.

[upena]

Upgrade? Thailand is lucky there is no Tier 4, 5, or 6. I smell sanctions

[Tatsujin]

"Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further."

Exactly ... they were well paid not to take action. Stop the lies. The only people that believe them are the Thai's.

[rametindallas]

Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

The police in Thailand are, for the most part, worse than useless and are probably responsible for more than half the crime (if you take into account 'aiding and abetting' and 'looking the other way for tea money') in this otherwise lovely country. Apparently, the police are only police for what they can personally gain from being police. In other words, they are in it for themselves. (Again, I'm not referring to the 3% that are honest cops). Thailand deserves to be near the bottom of the TiP list; it has become so common that many consider it the way of life here as illustrated by the police's action inaction after being tipped off.

[Srikcir]

Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

The police in Thailand are, for the most part, worse than useless and are probably responsible for more than half the crime (if you take into account 'aiding and abetting' and 'looking the other way for tea money') in this otherwise lovely country. Apparently, the police are only police for what they can personally gain from being police. In other words, they are in it for themselves. (Again, I'm not referring to the 3% that are honest cops). Thailand deserves to be near the bottom of the TiP list; it has become so common that many consider it the way of life here as illustrated by the police's action inaction after being tipped off.

Since the coup almost a year ago, the RTP have been under control and supervision of the military. It is the failure of the Junta in that time to have made ANY significant inroads to detection and prosecution of traffickers. Not just the police. And so far as the border area with Malaysia is concerned, it has been the military that has had a heavy presence with counterinsurgency forces who can't seem to find ANY trafficking much less insurgents.

But maybe with the 1,168 military and police officers who have been promoted to the rank of general in 2014 and 2015 will improve national security. Put all those new generals in the field to search for traffickers!

Edited May 5, 2015 by Srikcir

[JAG]

Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

The police in Thailand are, for the most part, worse than useless and are probably responsible for more than half the crime (if you take into account 'aiding and abetting' and 'looking the other way for tea money') in this otherwise lovely country. Apparently, the police are only police for what they can personally gain from being police. In other words, they are in it for themselves. (Again, I'm not referring to the 3% that are honest cops). Thailand deserves to be near the bottom of the TiP list; it has become so common that many consider it the way of life here as illustrated by the police's action inaction after being tipped off.

Since the coup almost a year ago, the RTP have been under control and supervision of the military. It is the failure of the Junta in that time to have made ANY significant inroads to detection and prosecution of traffickers. Not just the police. And so far as the border area with Malaysia is concerned, it has been the military that has had a heavy presence with counterinsurgency forces who can't seem to find ANY trafficking much less insurgents.

But maybe with the 1,168 military and police officers who have been promoted to the rank of general in 2014 and 2015 will improve national security. Put all those new generals in the field to search for traffickers!

Now there is a cracking idea! All those highly motivated, deeply professional and vastly experienced officers, both from the army and the police force, must be just itching for an opportunity once more to use their skills operating in the field. So much more fulfilling than the office jobs, with cars and personal staff which they must have been resigned to once promoted!

New combat suits all round - parade outside the mess at 0600 for a bit of revision training. Dress combat kit. Don't forget to have the right amount of weight in your webbing......

Am I getting carried away?

Edited May 5, 2015 by JAG

[BestBitterPhuket]

Good report. It tells it as it is. Nothing has been done, except cheap talk and PR. The same people who "overlooked" the problem are now in charge of "dealing" with it. It's a farse and a joke. Since nothing serious has been done, except talking, they should not be allowed up from the third tier spot. All the syndicates, murderers and corrupt officials are still out there, despite 3 or 4 small fry being arrested after the "unfortunate" discovery of the mass graves.

[Baerboxer]

AT LAST,,, THE TRUTH IS FINALY STARTING TO COME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Thailand has been doing the usual, playing politics instead of having a real crack at tackling the issue, worried about FACE and the loss of income instead of the plight of the poor and vulnerable souls that are simply a pay cheque, and a public thorn in the side of the country, and the disgusting truth that is Thailand's apathy and indifference to the people that now lay dead and still being held for ransom.

11 months now the PM has been playing politics and the issue is getting worse each time it rears it's ugly head, Now this junta has a real chance at going down in history for a few right reasons or will it be just as pathetic as the last 18 that precede it, how's this going to play out? with the victims arrested as the usual? a few token heads to roll? or a fairdinkum no pulling punches go at dealing with the issue no matter who and how high it goes???

Do you appreciate the irony in your post?

ps - remember when good old Tarit of the DSI refused to investigate anything to do with trafficking. He and his entire department were much to busy threatening anyone who dared speak out against his master's Shin clan? And what exactly did Yingluck or her brother's cabinet do on this subject? Oh yes, she said it was getting better, just like very other lie.

[Baerboxer]

Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

The police in Thailand are, for the most part, worse than useless and are probably responsible for more than half the crime (if you take into account 'aiding and abetting' and 'looking the other way for tea money') in this otherwise lovely country. Apparently, the police are only police for what they can personally gain from being police. In other words, they are in it for themselves. (Again, I'm not referring to the 3% that are honest cops). Thailand deserves to be near the bottom of the TiP list; it has become so common that many consider it the way of life here as illustrated by the police's action inaction after being tipped off.

Since the coup almost a year ago, the RTP have been under control and supervision of the military. It is the failure of the Junta in that time to have made ANY significant inroads to detection and prosecution of traffickers. Not just the police. And so far as the border area with Malaysia is concerned, it has been the military that has had a heavy presence with counterinsurgency forces who can't seem to find ANY trafficking much less insurgents.

But maybe with the 1,168 military and police officers who have been promoted to the rank of general in 2014 and 2015 will improve national security. Put all those new generals in the field to search for traffickers!

And pray tell, what significant inroads did the Yingluck (Thaksin) administration make into this during its nearly 3 years in office? Or any of the previous Thaksin administrations?

Almost 12 months to sort our years of corrupt misrule, lies, and regimes more focused on the Shin get rich quick club than actually governing. Yeah right, magic wand time then. Easy to point out all the shit - and not point out which family clan not only failed to clean any up but usually managed to add to it whilst in power for most of this century.

Do you have a link for all those promotions? And, have you checked the number of retirees etc for the same period.

[Just1Voice]

Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

The police in Thailand are, for the most part, worse than useless and are probably responsible for more than half the crime (if you take into account 'aiding and abetting' and 'looking the other way for tea money') in this otherwise lovely country. Apparently, the police are only police for what they can personally gain from being police. In other words, they are in it for themselves. (Again, I'm not referring to the 3% that are honest cops). Thailand deserves to be near the bottom of the TiP list; it has become so common that many consider it the way of life here as illustrated by the police's action inaction after being tipped off.

Since the coup almost a year ago, the RTP have been under control and supervision of the military. It is the failure of the Junta in that time to have made ANY significant inroads to detection and prosecution of traffickers. Not just the police. And so far as the border area with Malaysia is concerned, it has been the military that has had a heavy presence with counterinsurgency forces who can't seem to find ANY trafficking much less insurgents.

But maybe with the 1,168 military and police officers who have been promoted to the rank of general in 2014 and 2015 will improve national security. Put all those new generals in the field to search for traffickers!

And pray tell, what significant inroads did the Yingluck (Thaksin) administration make into this during its nearly 3 years in office? Or any of the previous Thaksin administrations?

Almost 12 months to sort our years of corrupt misrule, lies, and regimes more focused on the Shin get rich quick club than actually governing. Yeah right, magic wand time then. Easy to point out all the shit - and not point out which family clan not only failed to clean any up but usually managed to add to it whilst in power for most of this century.

Do you have a link for all those promotions? And, have you checked the number of retirees etc for the same period.

And before the Shins came along, there was never any corruption, never any trafficking of people/migrants, and all politicians, police, and everyone above the rank of a lowly desk secretary was honest and truthful in all their dealings and finances? No one charged one price for Thai, one for foreigners. Tuk tuk and taxi drivers were honest, and the most polite people you could ever meet.

Some of you people SERIOUSLY need to get over you Shinawatra "fixation" and realize they didn't invent corruption, and that it was around a hell of a long time before Thaksin was even a lustful gleam in his father's eye, and it will be around a hell of a long time after he's gone.

I don't like the guy, and never did, but I sure as hell don't blame him and his family for every little thing that is wrong in and with Thailand the way some of you are obsessed with doing every chance you get.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Just1Voice

[Time Traveller]

Notice the timing of this discovery? Just when the Military government announce that they are doing a nationwide clean out of the police department and corrupt police, the Thai police coincidentally discover 2 mass graves.

Most likely explanation is that the Police were aware of what the Thai Military had done years ago and are now going to rat them out to embarrass them internationally in a battle for survival.

This is going to get very ugly, but will be fun viewing. May the worst side win.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Time Traveller

[RigPig]

Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further.

The police in Thailand are, for the most part, worse than useless and are probably responsible for more than half the crime (if you take into account 'aiding and abetting' and 'looking the other way for tea money') in this otherwise lovely country. Apparently, the police are only police for what they can personally gain from being police. In other words, they are in it for themselves. (Again, I'm not referring to the 3% that are honest cops). Thailand deserves to be near the bottom of the TiP list; it has become so common that many consider it the way of life here as illustrated by the police's action inaction after being tipped off.

Since the coup almost a year ago, the RTP have been under control and supervision of the military. It is the failure of the Junta in that time to have made ANY significant inroads to detection and prosecution of traffickers. Not just the police. And so far as the border area with Malaysia is concerned, it has been the military that has had a heavy presence with counterinsurgency forces who can't seem to find ANY trafficking much less insurgents.

But maybe with the 1,168 military and police officers who have been promoted to the rank of general in 2014 and 2015 will improve national security. Put all those new generals in the field to search for traffickers!

And pray tell, what significant inroads did the Yingluck (Thaksin) administration make into this during its nearly 3 years in office? Or any of the previous Thaksin administrations?

Almost 12 months to sort our years of corrupt misrule, lies, and regimes more focused on the Shin get rich quick club than actually governing. Yeah right, magic wand time then. Easy to point out all the shit - and not point out which family clan not only failed to clean any up but usually managed to add to it whilst in power for most of this century.

Do you have a link for all those promotions? And, have you checked the number of retirees etc for the same period.

So who overthrew the elected government? The same people running the illegal logging, human trafficking, drugs etc. The same people who now have the opportunity to get rid of any competition and create the monopoly they want?

How could an elected government which is aware of their vulnerability control the people who could (and did) take them out in the blink of an eye?

[Cake Monster]

These atrocities committed on not only Thai soil, but also on Malaysian soil, will probably be one of the most horrendous crimes against humanity ever committed once all the facts and the " secrets " come out fully.

Hopefully, the UN will now have feet on the ground in the area to uncover the truth.

The one big question is where are all these poor souls trafficked too. Are they the slaves on the fishing boats, the Agriculteral workers slaving in the fields in 50 Deg heat every day, or the workers in the processing plants for seafood or chicken.

If there was no " market " for these poor peoples slave labour, then there would be no trafficking, so this is where the issue needs addressing.

Thailand worries about its upgrade rating in the TIP index, while what appears to be genocide is being committed within their borders - Unbelievable Thailand

[Sealbash]

These people were being smuggled into Malaysia. Where does Malaysia rank on the U.S. list?

[Terrypom]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

These people were being smuggled into Malaysia. Where does Malaysia rank on the U.S. list?

Placements

Tier Placements

Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

Trafficking in Persons Report 2014

Report

Share on facebookShare on twitter

The Tiers

Tier 1

Countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s (TVPA) minimum standards.

Tier 2

Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

Tier 2 Watch List

Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA’s minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards AND:

1. The absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing;
2. There is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or
3. The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.

Tier 3

Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so.

Tier Placements

Tier 3

Algeria
Central African Republic
Congo, Democratic Rep. Of
Cuba
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
The Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Iran
Korea, North
Kuwait
Libya
Malaysia*
Mauritania
Papua New Guinea
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Thailand*
Uzbekistan
Venezuela*
Yemen
Zimbabwe

* Auto downgrade from Tier 2 Watch List

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

"Police had apparently been tipped off to the presence of such camps long before last week's grisly discovery, yet they chose not to take any action or investigate further"

Yeah...Tipped off as in corruption money to turn a blind eye and be complacent. These are crimes against humanity and when all the murdered people are found in this atrocity there should be an thorough investigation by an international council and those who carried out these murders and ANYONE who profited from it be sent to prison for as long as these murdered innocent people are DEAD!