Malaysian involvement suspected in Thai smuggling ring: NGO

[webfact]

Malaysian involvement suspected in Thai smuggling ring: NGO
AFP

BANGKOK: -- A labour rights group said Thursday it has received reports of undocumented migrant workers going missing in Malaysia and called on authorities to investigate whether a deadly human-trafficking operation uncovered in neighbouring Thailand was reaching across the border.

The call by Malaysian NGO Tenaganita came as Thai authorities said six more bodies were found near a site along the two countries' borders where the remains of 26 migrants were found over the weekend in a mass grave.

Glorene Das, director of Tenaganita, said the group has over the past year received testimonies from illegal migrants and refugees about missing loved ones.

She said the testimonials indicated Malaysians were involved in human smuggling.

But she cautioned that Tenaganita had received no eyewitness accounts or proof to that effect, nor any firm information on whether Malaysia also is home to any camps where migrants are held against their will.

"When their family members are missing, or they have not written home, these people come to us to see if we can help them trace these family members," Das said.

"We know that its true that (Malaysians are involved in human smuggling)," she added, declining to give further information, citing the sensitivity of the situation and need to protect vulnerable refugees.

But Das called on Malaysia's government to "investigate who they are and to continue the investigations so that the people involved can be prosecuted."

The dead found in Thailand are believed to be migrants from Myanmar or Bangladesh, who for years have been smuggled in large numbers to Thailand, Malaysia and beyond.

On Monday, Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said there was "no evidence" of Malaysian involvement in the smuggling ring operating in Thailand.

But a day later, anti-trafficking group Freeland Foundation said an investigation conducted by police and NGOs in Thailand revealed traffickers were demanding around $3,000 per migrant from family members in ransom, or selling them on for $1,000 each to work on Malaysian plantations.

Rights groups have long accused Thai authorities of turning a blind eye to -- and even being complicit in -- people-smuggling.

Malaysia's economy is a magnet for migrants from Indonesia, Myanmar and Bangladesh, but reports abound of worker abuse and a lack of official protections.

Last September, a study by US-based fair-labour organisation Verite said nearly one-third of the 350,000 workers toiling in Malaysian electronics factories -- particularly foreign migrants -- were stuck in a spiral of indentured servitude akin to "modern slavery", unable to pay off excessive recruitment fees.

The government has denied the claim.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-08

[Strangebrew]

And the finger pointing now begins, Right Thai's don't do that it is others.

[BSJ]

"Last September, a study by US-based fair-labour organisation Verite said nearly one-third of the 350,000 workers toiling in Malaysian electronics factories -- particularly foreign migrants -- were stuck in a spiral of indentured servitude akin to "modern slavery", unable to pay off excessive recruitment fees." And the Malaysian government know nothing about this......

[Robby nz]

Hardly suspected, it must be an absolute certainty that Malaysia is involved.

The forests that the camps so far found in Thailand extend well into Malaysia and without a doubt there will be camps on the other side of the border, that probably being where the people that have disappeared from the camps on the Thai side are now.

All reports suggest that these people were heading for Malaysia with Thailand only being a transit point used by the smugglers until they could extract ransom from families or sell their human misery as slaves.

The only reason they would have used Thailand is because they found it easy to get cooperation from crooked authority, now that is being deprived them they will change tactics.

We already hear of ships waiting offshore filled with these people, quite convenient really, only have to chuck the bodies of those who cant produce a ransom or there is no sale for over the side, no need to dig graves and very unlikely they will ever be found.

This is not just a Thai problem as some would have us believe but the root cause is to the north and the last paragraph of the OP gives an idea of the destination.

[Oziex1]

And the finger pointing now begins, Right Thai's don't do that it is others.

Look they do it as well so it is OK., Malaysia all so on Tier 3 for TIP.

One big happy ASEAN family and now for AEC.

[ChrisY1]

The boats appear to come straight to Thailand..whether direct from Myanmar or possibly another transit point in Thailand....from the reports, they don't go direct to Malaysia, so it would be reasonable to assume that it's well planned by the Thais as a commercial venture.....

This will test the mettle of Prayuth to ensure the capture and prosecution the big men involved....whether police, military or otherwise............

I fear if and when these cases start to get to court, the "lack of evidence" phrase so commonly seen in Thai courts, only the small fry will be dealt with.......and it could take years.

[BestBitterPhuket]

Malaysian politicians from the Barisan National coalition and their civil servant stooges, are habitual liars and corrupt to the bone. They would easily deny that any American tanks were in Bagdad. Malaysia should take more of the blame. A bit strange that they mistreat their Muslim "brothers" like this. Malaysia should also be placed firmly in tier three with a penalty levied on many of their export products.

[ExPratt]

Malaysia is swamped with Foreign workers , Bangladeshi and Burmese manly. Construction work on Malaysia huge projects is full of them as General workers /Labourers There is a huge saving in wages as they pay them next to nothing , Also restaurateur staff, and there are many Restaurants or Nasi Kandar in Malaysia are staffed mainly by Foreign labour. Loads of corruption and back handers see's the authorities turning a blind eye to the illegal one

[simple1]

Malaysian politicians from the Barisan National coalition and their civil servant stooges, are habitual liars and corrupt to the bone. They would easily deny that any American tanks were in Bagdad. Malaysia should take more of the blame. A bit strange that they mistreat their Muslim "brothers" like this. Malaysia should also be placed firmly in tier three with a penalty levied on many of their export products.

The idea that Muslim majority country countries treat Muslim non citizens as 'brothers' is largely a myth. Malaysia is listed by the US State Dept as Tier 3.

http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2014/226770.htm

Penalties for being listed as Tier 3 do not include trade sanctions.

Pursuant to the TVPA, governments of countries on Tier 3 may be subject to certain sanctions, whereby the U.S. government may withhold or withdraw nonhumanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance. In addition, countries on Tier 3 may not receive funding for government employees’ participation in educational and cultural exchange programs. Consistent with the TVPA, governments subject to sanctions would also face U.S. opposition to assistance (except for humanitarian, trade-related, and certain development-related assistance) from international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2013/210543.htm

[Srikcir]

Hardly suspected, it must be an absolute certainty that Malaysia is involved.

The forests that the camps so far found in Thailand extend well into Malaysia and without a doubt there will be camps on the other side of the border, that probably being where the people that have disappeared from the camps on the Thai side are now.

All reports suggest that these people were heading for Malaysia with Thailand only being a transit point used by the smugglers until they could extract ransom from families or sell their human misery as slaves.

The only reason they would have used Thailand is because they found it easy to get cooperation from crooked authority, now that is being deprived them they will change tactics.

We already hear of ships waiting offshore filled with these people, quite convenient really, only have to chuck the bodies of those who cant produce a ransom or there is no sale for over the side, no need to dig graves and very unlikely they will ever be found.

This is not just a Thai problem as some would have us believe but the root cause is to the north and the last paragraph of the OP gives an idea of the destination.

"now that is being deprived them they will change tactics."

Hasn't happened yet and likely not to change. Why - because the Thai government is run now by the military? When has the military or police discovered an active trafficking camp? This would be same the military that cannot be prosecuted for any actions committed during the military regime. What is likely to change is to make is that traffickers will be more covert and pay larger protection fees to local "law enforcement" authorities.

Edited May 8, 2015 by Srikcir

[abitmiffed]

Malaysian involvement suspected in Thai smuggling ring: NGO

AFP

BANGKOK: -- A labour rights group said Thursday it has received reports of undocumented migrant workers going missing in Malaysia and called on authorities to investigate whether a deadly human-trafficking operation uncovered in neighbouring Thailand was reaching across the border.

The call by Malaysian NGO Tenaganita came as Thai authorities said six more bodies were found near a site along the two countries' borders where the remains of 26 migrants were found over the weekend in a mass grave.

Glorene Das, director of Tenaganita, said the group has over the past year received testimonies from illegal migrants and refugees about missing loved ones.

She said the testimonials indicated Malaysians were involved in human smuggling.

But she cautioned that Tenaganita had received no eyewitness accounts or proof to that effect, nor any firm information on whether Malaysia also is home to any camps where migrants are held against their will.

"When their family members are missing, or they have not written home, these people come to us to see if we can help them trace these family members," Das said.

"We know that its true that (Malaysians are involved in human smuggling)," she added, declining to give further information, citing the sensitivity of the situation and need to protect vulnerable refugees.

But Das called on Malaysia's government to "investigate who they are and to continue the investigations so that the people involved can be prosecuted."

The dead found in Thailand are believed to be migrants from Myanmar or Bangladesh, who for years have been smuggled in large numbers to Thailand, Malaysia and beyond.

On Monday, Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said there was "no evidence" of Malaysian involvement in the smuggling ring operating in Thailand.

But a day later, anti-trafficking group Freeland Foundation said an investigation conducted by police and NGOs in Thailand revealed traffickers were demanding around $3,000 per migrant from family members in ransom, or selling them on for $1,000 each to work on Malaysian plantations.

Rights groups have long accused Thai authorities of turning a blind eye to -- and even being complicit in -- people-smuggling.

Malaysia's economy is a magnet for migrants from Indonesia, Myanmar and Bangladesh, but reports abound of worker abuse and a lack of official protections.

Last September, a study by US-based fair-labour organisation Verite said nearly one-third of the 350,000 workers toiling in Malaysian electronics factories -- particularly foreign migrants -- were stuck in a spiral of indentured servitude akin to "modern slavery", unable to pay off excessive recruitment fees.

The government has denied the claim.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-05-08

For sure there are people involved from all sides or else I could not not go on.

And yes its not only Thai people in the middle of all this.

[FangFerang]

I woulkd be happy if the countries involved just made it easier for people to work in their countries -- that is the root cause of all this. Laos flee to Thailand, get stuck and stay, Rohingyas flee more than three persecuting countries, and get stuck and stay.....

The framework of laws interconnecting ASEAN guarantee the continued existence of human trafficking. Make it unprofitable, and it will stop.

NO ONE seems interested in that at all. No one. Why? Because they refuse to be old dogs learning new tricks.

Duh.

[OmarZaidMD]

The Malaysian connection and complicity is a given. My ears on the ground here report no end of policing atrocities, especially when it comes to unprotected women. And therein lies the crux of the matter.

ASEAN men are not protecting their women. Until that changes, nothing will change, sorry folks... Pass all the resolutions you wish, write all the laws and spill all the ink and cyber-splatter you can muster. Unless ASEAN men are held accountable for the safety of their women folk, nothing will change except the price of the carpet under which such wickedness is hidden.

[NeilSA1]

And the finger pointing now begins, Right Thai's don't do that it is others.

Your post infers that you do not believe that Malaysians may be involved in human smuggling. Do you really believe it is only the Thais?

[jackanapes]

I have said before and I will say it again human trafficking is a global issue and will be for quite some time because there is a lot of money to be made it will continue .

[ExPratt]

Published: Monday May 11, 2015 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Monday May 11, 2015 MYT 10:14:05 AM

Cops keeping a close eye on areas with many foreigners

GEORGE TOWN: In view of the discovery of “death camps” in southern Thailand, Penang police are monitoring areas with a high population of foreigners and their favourite hangouts.

A police source said they had done surveillance in these areas and scored several successes.

“In recent weeks, we have not come across any such (human trafficking) activities,” the source added.

The biggest success came in Sungai Petani, Kedah, last year when police rescued 46 foreigners confined to a house in Taman Sejati Indah.

They were Bangladeshis and Myanmar nationals aged between 18 and 45, many of whom were found to be starving and malnourished.

In December last year, police uncovered a “slaughter house” in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, following a spate of gruesome murders involving at least 20 victims.

The murders came to light following the discoveries of human body parts on the mainland and the island.

However, police have since clarified that the gruesome murders involving Myanmar nationals were not linked to human trafficking.

When approached, several foreign workers who said they had legal work permits claimed they were not aware of any such Rohingya in Butterworth.

Rohingya Society Malaysia secretary-general Anwar Ahmad, who has been in Malaysia for 18 years, said they had not received any reports of human trafficking relating to Rohingyas in Penang.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/05/11/Cops-keeping-a-close-eye-on-areas-with-many-foreigners/?