Thai PM to 'respect' US decision in Trafficking Report

[dcutman]

Article here just came out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/world/outlaw-ocean-thailand-fishing-sea-slaves-pets.html

And another one.

AP Exclusive: AP tracks slave boats to Papua New Guinea

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-tracks-missing-slave-fishing-boats-papua-guinea-051810975.html

[noitom]

Thailand flubs again on human trafficking and slave labor.

[jaywalker]

Article here just came out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/world/outlaw-ocean-thailand-fishing-sea-slaves-pets.html

Timed precisely for release today, no doubt.

"While forced labor exists throughout the world, nowhere is the problem more pronounced than here in the South China Sea, especially in the Thai fishing fleet, which faces an annual shortage of about 50,000 mariners, based on United Nations estimates. The shortfall is primarily filled by using migrants, mostly from Cambodia and Myanmar.

Many of them, like Mr. Long, are lured across the border by traffickers only to become so-called sea slaves in floating labor camps. Often they are beaten for the smallest transgressions, like stitching a torn net too slowly or mistakenly placing a mackerel into a bucket for herring, according to a United Nations survey of about 50 Cambodian men and boys sold to Thai fishing boats. Of those interviewed in the 2009 survey, 29 said they had witnessed their captain or other officers kill a worker."

I'm not a professional fisherman but aren't herring mostly found in the North Atlantic?

"Geographical distribution

The herring is found on both sides of the north Atlantic. In the north east Atlantic it occurs from the Bay of Biscay in the south to Spitzbergen and Novaya Zemlya in the north, while in the north west Atlantic it occurs from the coast of Maine northwards. The most important fishing grounds are the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the coastal waters of Britain, Norway, Iceland and Canada."

http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/tan/x5933e/x5933e01.htm

[rchapstick]

On what tier would the US put itself into?

Well, you could download the report and read it for yourself. See the link on page 2.

[jaywalker]

Article here just came out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/world/outlaw-ocean-thailand-fishing-sea-slaves-pets.html

Excellent article, thanks for the link.

Pu-lease???

Pet owners must watch how fast their dog eats???? Sounds like something Mr. P would say.

.....and how fast Fido swallows his food will help trafficked fishermen in what way?

That NYT article is far worse than most PBS "journalism".

[bendejo]

After finding that jungle camp on the Andaman coast a few months ago I think both Thailand and Malaysia should be held culpable. The PM of Malaysia has been busy smooching Obama's backside, plus there is the internal DC politics to get the trade bill passed, and if Malaysia's status improves this will be why.

Take a trip to KL or Penang. A lot of the south Asian people you see toiling away in restaurants, construction sites etc are there on "sell your soul" deals made to bring them to Malaysia get them those lousy jobs, conditions very close to slavery.

[englishoak]

After finding that jungle camp on the Andaman coast a few months ago I think both Thailand and Malaysia should be held culpable. The PM of Malaysia has been busy smooching Obama's backside, plus there is the internal DC politics to get the trade bill passed, and if Malaysia's status improves this will be why.

Take a trip to KL or Penang. A lot of the south Asian people you see toiling away in restaurants, construction sites etc are there on "sell your soul" deals made to bring them to Malaysia get them those lousy jobs, conditions very close to slavery.

There is no doubt plenty of the same scum in Malaysia involved and im sure in Myanmar too, More has to be done by all in ASEAN, they are going to be collectively responsible as a trading block and had better be prepared for the EU and probably the US to expect ASEAN to control its members and make sure they follow international agreements and rules.

[MZurf]

Article here just came out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/27/world/outlaw-ocean-thailand-fishing-sea-slaves-pets.html

Timed precisely for release today, no doubt.

"While forced labor exists throughout the world, nowhere is the problem more pronounced than here in the South China Sea, especially in the Thai fishing fleet, which faces an annual shortage of about 50,000 mariners, based on United Nations estimates. The shortfall is primarily filled by using migrants, mostly from Cambodia and Myanmar.

Many of them, like Mr. Long, are lured across the border by traffickers only to become so-called sea slaves in floating labor camps. Often they are beaten for the smallest transgressions, like stitching a torn net too slowly or mistakenly placing a mackerel into a bucket for herring, according to a United Nations survey of about 50 Cambodian men and boys sold to Thai fishing boats. Of those interviewed in the 2009 survey, 29 said they had witnessed their captain or other officers kill a worker."

I'm not a professional fisherman but aren't herring mostly found in the North Atlantic?

Not the red ones....

[oneday]

"...because of the government’s efforts to crackdown on trafficking networks since the May 2014 coup that brought Gen. Prayuth into power..."

Incredibly stupid for anyone to make a statement like this since the TIP report's cut-off date was at the end of March this year and there was zero trafficking crackdown until the mass graves were found on May 1st of this year. It had to be thrown in their faces before anything was done. Next year may see Thailand upgraded, but I hope not if they send the PhuketWan journalists to jail.

[soalbundy]

So what other options has he got ? Oh none. respect it is then

[Srikcir]

I think we can say that since the General took over things have been done and will most likely continue to be done but what happens when an 'elected' Government gets back in remains to be seen. You can bet when that happens most or all of the good work done by then will be wrecked by those wonderful democratically elected sharks who are only ever interested in fleecing the country for their own good.

So only the minority can be trusted to govern a nation regardless of the wishes of the majority.

Easy to understand.

But of course such an axiom only applies when the minority can force the majority to its will.

A democratic soldier you are not.

[Fat Haggis]

Reuters reported that Malaysia was being upgraded to tier 2.

I won't be surprised if Thailand is as well

How's that surprise working out for you?

[Eric Loh]

Reuters reported that Malaysia was being upgraded to tier 2.

I won't be surprised if Thailand is as well

Thailand will get the upgrade as soon as we get an elected government. Bone of the issue is just that.

[Jim walker]

Come on Junta chairman time you got your lads to hang around the Thai borders and stop the slave trade in your country.

[Strangebrew]

Maybe next year Thailand will be upgraded to tier 2. Well it could happen.

[T_Dog]

Maybe next year Thailand will be upgraded to tier 2. Well it could happen.

More likely that they are still in court trying the two Phuketawan reporters and Andy Hall for letting the cat out of the bag. Just unbelievable that they haven't thrown those cases out yet, but it does show where the government's motivations are.