General among 72 indicted over human trafficking

[Lite Beer]

General among 72 indicted over human trafficking

BANGKOK: -- THE government said yesterday it would indict 72 people, including a senior Army officer, over human trafficking after the plight of desperate Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants stranded at sea triggered an international outcry over the grim trade.

The move comes after vast people-smuggling networks unravelled in May when thousands of migrants were abandoned in open waters and jungle camps by traffickers following a Thai crackdown, a crisis that eventually forced a Southeast Asia-wide response.

Thailand has long been accused of ignoring official complicity in the multi-million dollar trade, which had until recent months flourished through its southern provinces and onto Malaysia - the desired destination of Myanmar's persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority.

A spokesman for the Office of the Attorney-General said yesterday it had issued an order to indict 72 people charged on 16 counts mostly over human trafficking, including more than a dozen state officials of all levels.

"We will not let influential people rise above justice," Wanchai Roujanavong told reporters at a press conference in Bangkok. The charges include human trafficking, involvement in international crimes, taking and bringing illegal migrants and malfeasance.

"The Office has given priority to the issue - as it is a big group of people involving international systems. It has caused a lot of damage to the country as dead bodies were found," Wanchai said, in regard to the grisly discovery of dozens of graves in abandoned traffickers' camps along the border with Malaysia that sparked the trafficking crackdown.

A court in Songkhla province, where the graves were found, was due to process the indictments late yesterday.

Among the suspects is Lt-General Manas Kongpan, charged with being a kingpin in the lucrative trade. His alleged involvement raises awkward questions for junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha, who has repeatedly justified his coup last year as a much-needed antidote to graft that he says flourished under a series of elected civilian governments.Manas was promoted while Prayut was Army chief.

He remains the only military officer charged with complicity in people smuggling, an issue that has raised eyebrows among rights groups, who say it is unlikely such an influential officer would have acted alone.

None of the suspects will be bailed, Wanchai added, while a further 47 suspects - mostly Thais but also including Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals - are still on the run. Around 4,500 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants were stranded in Southeast Asian waters in recent months, with countries reluctant to accept them until finally landing ashore on Malaysian, Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Myanmar and Thai soil.

Thai police say they have dismantled the trafficking network throughout the Kingdom. But rights groups are waiting for the end of the monsoon season in a few months to see if boats again set sail south from Myanmar and Bangladesh or if new trafficking routes emerge.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/General-among-72-indicted-over-human-trafficking-30265204.html

-- The Nation 2015-07-25

[anon7867763]

OH.. i wonder what side that General was on ??

[ezzra]

"We will not let influential people rise above justice," you talked the talk, now walk the walk,, whole

nation are watching.....

[Jonathan Fairfield]

More than 100 suspects face Thai human trafficking charges

THANYARAT DOKSONE, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's state prosecutors recommended charges against more than 100 people, including a Thai army general, in a multinational human trafficking scandal that came to light after dozens of bodies were discovered in the country's south earlier this year, a spokesman said Friday.

Ninety-one Thais, nine Myanmar nationals and four Bangladeshis face 16 charges, including human trafficking, partaking in a transnational crime network, and assisting or bringing in aliens into the kingdom illegally, Office of the Attorney General spokesman Wanchai Roujanavong told reporters.

"The investigation showed it is a big syndicate. There were networks that brought them (the migrants) from overseas into the country systematically," he said. "There were a lot of damages. Bodies were found. Senior officials were accused, as well as influential figures. The Office of the Attorney General, therefore, treats it as a very important case."

He said provincial prosecutors have pressed charges against 72 arrested suspects and were waiting to proceed with 32 others who remained at large.

The sweeping investigation, in which 15 Thai state officials were implicated, came after 36 bodies, believed to be migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, were exhumed from various abandoned jungle camps near the Thai-Malaysian border in May.

The discovery has intensified international pressure on Thailand to crack down on smugglers. More than 50 people were arrested in a month, including local politicians, government officials, police, and a senior-ranking army officer who once oversaw human trafficking issues in the country's south. About 50 police officers in the southern provinces were removed from their posts and investigated for possible involvement in trafficking syndicates.

The 15 state officials, including Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen, four policemen, a powerful provincial mayor and local politicians, will also face charges of negligence of their duty, according to the spokesman.

Human rights groups have long accused Thai authorities of collusion in the trafficking industry, but officials have routinely denied the claims.

Wanchai said charges have not been presses against other 15 suspects as recommended by the police, but additional investigations have been ordered.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-25

[Seastallion]

""We will not let influential people rise above justice,""

As said above...talk the talk, now walk the walk.....and while you're indicting a general, you'd better call on the chief of BKK police.

[Seastallion]

"The 15 state officials, including Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen, four policemen, a powerful provincial mayor and local politicians, will also face charges of negligence of their duty, according to the spokesman."

I'm expecting a show trial, if it even gets that far, and wholesale dropping of charges, not guilty verdicts, and various "lack of evidence" excuses.

[canopus1969]

Only one General - what about the others ?

[Toknarok]

What a coincidence! In a few days time the USA is due to release it's latest report on Human Rights and Trafficking. Thailand desperately wants to be taken off the lowest tier. Show trial and scape goats come to mind.

[Seastallion]

What a coincidence! In a few days time the USA is due to release it's latest report on Human Rights and Trafficking. Thailand desperately wants to be taken off the lowest tier. Show trial and scape goats come to mind.

Hopefully the US (and the EU with regards to slave fishing boats) will require to see actual prison terms served.

[geriatrickid]

All of this came about despite Thailand. Credit for the progress to date must be given to;

- The human rights investigators who risked their lives documenting the abuses.

- The foreign affairs department of the EU led by the hardworking and dedicated German women who pushed the investigation forward despite the resistance in the EU to pursuing the issue.

- The US state department for listening to the EU and agreeing to lend its support to what was essentially an initiative driven by Germany. The USA is catching a lot of flack now on the mistaken belief that it initiated the cleanup.

Disappointment is however reserved for some EU governments (hello, UK). Australia and Canada could have done more, but did not.

China, India, Russia and the muslim world deserve disgust for their silence. As for Myanmar and Bangladesh, their leaders should be subject to crimes against humanity for allowing this tragedy to occur.

Meanwhile the General who governs Thailand has not been much of a leader in respect to repudiating the criminal activity associated with the trafficking.

[sammygood]

charges are there to be dropped or pardonned

[SOTIRIOS]

...how about publishing a list of names....

...and how about seizing assets....

...or is this just another charade......

[NoshowJones]

...how about publishing a list of names....

...and how about seizing assets....

...or is this just another charade......

No people with 'connections' will be punished.

[26vinny]

what like moved to inactive post. wow thats a detterent NOT

...how about publishing a list of names....

...and how about seizing assets....

...or is this just another charade......

No people with 'connections' will be punished.

[Chang_paarp]

Only one General - what about the others ?

Wrong branch of the armed forces. The Reuters report that got Puketwan into trouble mentioned the Navy as a major player.

[lildragon]

Only one general eh? Why is there never serious reforms of ALL of the armed forces? They continually seem to be above any law. I wonder why

[elgordo38]

OH.. i wonder what side that General was on ??

The winning side aren't they all? Should check his undershirt is it yellow or red? Maybe he is a watermelon. Quote"We will not let influential people rise above justice," Wanchai Roujanavong told reporters at a press conference in Bangkok. The charges include human trafficking, involvement in international crimes, taking and bringing illegal migrants and malfeasance.Unquote. This statement made me weep with joy. Joy oh joy they are finally cracking down on corruption? How many generals are there anyways in Thailand. More than the grains of rice in one sack?

[Nobb]

A General and 71 other official indicted over human trafficking. Government employees have no honor but in Bangkok a police chief can not be stopped for breath test. If he was a good man he would have taken the breath test just like every one has to do. The General was probably bringing them over in his private car because no one could stop him. Thailand need a check and balance system so the corrupt officials can not be above the law. To the Bangkok police chief you are a disgrace to your uniform!

[Stan7444]

Only one General - what about the others ?

How about the Royal Thai Navy??? These people stranded at sea and the Navy did not get involved??? Got to be joking. Maybe they can use one of the submarines to locate them?

[tx22cb]

Prayut is afraid of the Navy, who have powerful backers.

Read the Wiki entry on Thailand's "aircraft carrier" for clues.

As an aside, I've been on cruise ships in the Caribbean which are 10 times the aircraft carrier's gross tonnage.

Edited July 25, 2015 by tx22cb

[phoenixdoglover]

A decades-long problem fixed in two months!

Great work, General Roadmap.

That's another check mark on the National Reform Checklist.

Who would have thought that it would be so easy?

And excellent work digging out the rot in your own organization. One very industrious Army General.

Who would have thought that one military man could do so much wrong?

Now we can sleep well, as the "sweeping investigation" has concluded, persecutions will proceed on an expedited schedule, and human trafficking has been eliminated from Thailand.

Bravo, sir!

I would raise my glass to you, except the bar is closed.

[candide]

Only one General - what about the others ?

And he bas been caught only because he was stupid enough to get his cut paid by bank transfer.

[Mitker]

"...It has caused a lot of damage to the country as dead bodies were found..."

It has caused a lot more damage to the human beings formerly living in those bodies

[djjamie]

When the military do not arrest one of their own the comments are "Biased military", "Hypocritical military" and "Corrupt military".

When they do arrest one of their own the comments are "OH.. i wonder what side that General was on", "Only one General - what about the others" and "All of this came about despite Thailand"

The argument evolves due to some being proven wrong (again!). The sad thing is in 2 weeks if the military arrest another 76 ministers or govt workers for human trafficking and no military officer is among them the argument will magically go back to the "default" argument. Refer to my first sentence for default arguments.

Well done on the military for being pro active in there suppression of human tracking. One only needs to witness the changes at the Nong Kai border with Laos to see their no nonsense approach.

Edited July 25, 2015 by djjamie

[Happy Grumpy]

Only one General - what about the others ?

Their underpants were stained yellow.

[Happy Grumpy]

Only one General - what about the others ?

How about the Royal Thai Navy??? These people stranded at sea and the Navy did not get involved??? Got to be joking. Maybe they can use one of the submarines to locate them?

Why would the navy get involved in that.

Only 7 years ago they towed 1000 of them out to sea and set them adrift to die.

Men, women and children.

December 2008.

Posters that don't know about it would be best to read up on it.

[phoenixdoglover]

When the military do not arrest one of their own the comments are "Biased military", "Hypocritical military" and "Corrupt military".

When they do arrest one of their own the comments are "OH.. i wonder what side that General was on", "Only one General - what about the others" and "All of this came about despite Thailand"

The argument evolves due to some being proven wrong (again!). The sad thing is in 2 weeks if the military arrest another 76 ministers or govt workers for human trafficking and no military officer is among them the argument will magically go back to the "default" argument. Refer to my first sentence for default arguments.

Well done on the military for being pro active in there suppression of human tracking. One only needs to witness the changes at the Nong Kai border with Laos to see their no nonsense approach.

The argument evolves to fit the facts as they emerge. As it should.

However, the central thesis, that international investigative reporting, and a reasonableness test, both suggest the Thai military is more heavily involved, remains constant until proven wrong.

To test this, consider two numbers: the number of people estimated to be trafficked in or through Thailand in a given year, and the number of people it would take to manage that illegal operation.

If you can summon sufficient numerical estimates and imagination, you will then know why there is an abundance of skepticism about the current declaration that the investigation is "complete".

I'll give you a hint. The Titanic hit the tip of the _______________.

[spidermike007]

"The 15 state officials, including Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen, four policemen, a powerful provincial mayor and local politicians, will also face charges of negligence of their duty, according to the spokesman."

I'm expecting a show trial, if it even gets that far, and wholesale dropping of charges, not guilty verdicts, and various "lack of evidence" excuses.

Negligence of duty? Is that a 500 baht fine, and a fully salaried transfer? How about aiding human trafficking, with a death sentence? Seems more appropriate. And by the way, how many government officials and fishing captains have received life imprisonment or the death sentence, so far? Are we serious, or are we playing games with the people?