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ANALYSIS
Is report 'political tool' of US govt?
NOPHAKHUN LIMSAMARNPHUN
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A TOTAL of 188 countries are covered in the United States' 2015 report on "Trafficking in Persons", with Thailand down in Tier 3, the lowest level, along with the likes of North Korea, Yemen, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Thai authorities said yesterday that the latest TIP report did not reflect the measures taken by the government over the past year in tackling cross-border human-trafficking cases, especially those involving Rohingya and other migrants. At Tier 3, the US president is empowered to slap penalties on Thailand within 90 days. Malaysia was upgraded to the Tier 2 watch-list in the 2015 TIP report, even though both Malaysia and Thailand were downgraded to Tier 3 last year for failing to tackle the human-trafficking issue.

Critics have questioned whether the TIP report is being used as a "political tool" to achieve the United States' objectives in various parts of the world, with the upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) cited as an example.

The TPP, a free-trade agreement on which 12 countries are currently negotiating, has been spearheaded by the US, with multiple rounds of talks taking place over the past several years.

In this TPP framework, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia are already among the participating countries whose trade ministers are scheduled to join a meeting with the US and other counterparts in Hawaii this week.

For Thailand, the bid to join the TPP started a few years ago. But it has been unsuccessful so far. Prinn Panichpakdi, head of CLSA Securities (Thailand), said the US TIP report could have been used to bring Thailand into the TPP negotiations, which he said might not serve Thailand's best national interests, especially in terms of a further opening up of the financial-services industry and the need to buy more expensive drugs.

On the other hand, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, led by the Asean Plus Six group, is a more suitable framework for Thailand for trade and investment liberalisation than the US-led TPP, Prinn said.

There has also been a regional power play with the US on one side and China on the other. China is seen as the predominant leader in Asean+3, which groups the 10 Asean member countries with China, Japan and South Korea, while Australia, New Zealand and India are added to Asean+6. However, China is not involved in the US-led TPP approach to trade and investment liberalisation, while Australia, Canada, Japan and Mexico are among the participating countries in addition to Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.

As China seeks to expand its regional role, it has led the formation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which has attracted dozens of Asian, European and other countries as members, including Thailand and other Asean members.

So far, the US has not joined the AIIB.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Is-report-political-tool-of-US-govt-30265455.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-29

[LomSak27]



Critics have questioned whether the TIP report is being used as a "political tool" to achieve the United States' objectives in various parts of the world

uh oh Looks like things are not good. Thailand is already down to vague conspiracy theories in an attempt to deflect. The police sweep and arrest at the end of last week was too transparent EVEN for US officials and that is saying something. Need to do that at least two weeks in advance of the ruling.

Perhaps its time to segue into op/ed pieces about cultural misunderstanding of police work and enforcement techniques.

Edited July 28, 2015 by LomSak27

[arthurboy]

After all the junta government whinging has died down, let's measure true and meaningful change by the number of trials, properly reported in the media, and the names of the trafficking Mr. Bigs and their lackeys sentenced to long prison terms.

While they are at it, let's also see the junta deal with the ever present spectre of 'corruption, influence and connections' that protects the Phu Yai's and their gangs.

Until then any change to the law, special investigation teams, etc. will remain utterly meaningless.

[Bluespunk]

"Is report 'political tool' of US govt?"

Yes.

It's there to stop slavery and people trafficking.

Something most people find socially, morally and politically repulsive.

[Rykbanlor]

The Thai government seems to view the rest of the world much as it does it's own people. A few slapdash actions here and there, some photo-ops and some media coverage of arrests, then after 2 weeks everyone should have forgotten about it and we can get on with doing what we damn well please until the next time someone calls us on something.

[LannaGuy]

it's the Tip of the junta Iceberg

[robblok]

Tool or not.. in the end no bans no effect nothing. I mean they are TIP3 but what are the sanctions. The US is a toothless tiger when it comes to sanctions that cost them money too. At least the EU will ban Thai products if they don't get it up to spec. The us is all bark but little bite because it costs them money too.

Edited July 29, 2015 by robblok

[deckape]

it's the Tip of the junta Iceberg

Touché

[Hayduke]

The TIP Report is certainly much more than a political tool. However it would be disingenuous to suggest it doesn't have significant political applications. Like a lot of things, its content and uses are subject to a...range...of interpretations.

[Srikcir]

Tool or not.. in the end no bans no effect nothing. I mean they are TIP3 but what are the sanctions. The US is a toothless tiger when it comes to sanctions that cost them money too. At least the EU will ban Thai products if they don't get it up to spec. The us is all bark but little bite because it costs them money too.

The USA seems to be the world Hub of Sanctions.

If you were to consider Iran, Switzerland, Syria and Russia for example, they may not consider the USA toothless.

But perhaps your superhero PM should reject the Tier 3 listing and challenge the USA to issue sanctions against Thailand. Or the PM could be proactive and ban Thai seafood exports to the USA in retaliation for the Tier 3 listing.

Remember even old toothless tigers have sharp claws.

[FangFerang]

The graphic clearly shows that the activity to fight corruption averaged triple the numbers in all categories but one when Yingluck was in power, and PLUMMETED after the coup.

How can the junta cheerleaders explain these figures? They can't, so they will bravely ignore them and join the Ostrich Club to stick their heads in the sand and whinge.

They will be staying away from this thread like lemmings and sheeple at a cliff...on second thought, lemmings and sheeple jump willingly to oblivion.

[phoenixdoglover]

To be fair, 2014 was probably a bad year in Thailand for getting anything done about human trafficking, or most other problems. The country took a step back, and while everyone was focused on "peace and order" the gritty business of slavery was out of sight, out of mind.

Now the focus is back, and the numbers tell a story about declining efforts from 2013 to 2014.

As a rational response, the Thai government could fight back with numbers showing a recovery of efforts and increases in the number of meaningful actions.

Unfortunately, the current government shows very little interest in quantifying their performance. So the US will do it for them, issuing another report in 2016.

[klauskunkel]

Thai analysis: Is TIP report 'political tool' of US govt?

Dear Thai thinkers , movers and shakers, your question is simply not too Thai-centric enough. How about this: the TIP Report was conceived for only one purpose - to slap Thailand around some for no reason whatsoever.

[robblok]

Tool or not.. in the end no bans no effect nothing. I mean they are TIP3 but what are the sanctions. The US is a toothless tiger when it comes to sanctions that cost them money too. At least the EU will ban Thai products if they don't get it up to spec. The us is all bark but little bite because it costs them money too.

The USA seems to be the world Hub of Sanctions.

If you were to consider Iran, Switzerland, Syria and Russia for example, they may not consider the USA toothless.

But perhaps your superhero PM should reject the Tier 3 listing and challenge the USA to issue sanctions against Thailand. Or the PM could be proactive and ban Thai seafood exports to the USA in retaliation for the Tier 3 listing.

Remember even old toothless tigers have sharp claws.

Seems you misunderstand me.. Thailand is wrong here and its right they are at tier3 they need to clean up their act. I am just surprised that there are no sanctions on it.. I would welcome them.

Supporting the junta does not mean i like everything they do or defend everything.

[LomSak27]

The Tier 3 ranking is going to be the least of Thailand's worries in about a week. The NYT just completed a five part series on 'lawlessness on the high seas';. Scofflaw freighters illegal fish pouching. That 10,000 nautical mile, 110 day chase of the Thunder culminating in her scuttling off Nigeria

and one titled:

Sea Slaves’: The Human Misery That Feeds Pets and Livestock

Men who have fled servitude on fishing boats recount beatings and worse as nets are cast for the catch that will become pet food and livestock feed.

article on the fisheries slave trade aboard Thai vessels.

These articles will be reprinted around the world. The best thing the Thai fishing industry had was anonymity. Tier 3 ranking ? I bet a bunch of companies will have to buy from another source due to consumer anger. Tough stuff bumble bee. This will get ugly!

[Usernames]

What's the problem? Thailand wanted China, and, now, Thailand is getting China. Thailand dismissed the US, and, now, the US is dismissing Thailand. Go trade with China. That is what you wanted. Why should the US open its doors to a blacklisted country that prefers America's rival? Time to pay for the decisions you make, Thailand.

[dominique355]

I understood the OP question to mean that downgrading Thailand to Tier 3 was not based on facts but on "politics" (whatever that means) such as the US government doesn't like the Thai military government and tries to put it in a bad light, even if that is not supported by facts.

Two things come to my mind:

1. The decision not to upgrade Thailand was based on Thailand's activity in fighting human trafficking in the year 2014. What Thailand has done since was not considered. And Thailand has done quite a lot after the end of 2014. Not all good though. It was an unfortunate coincidence that the US government's decision on TIP was published just when Thailand finally woke up and did something. I am confident that next year, when 2015 is considered, things will change.

2. Many people seems to see the US and its government as Thailand's enemy. Consequently, everything coming form the US must be bad and by bashing the US they believe Thailand will wash itself clean. It's an old lawyer's trick to discredit the witness when his testimony is not favorable. Hopefully though, this will not stop those who genuinely try to help fighting human trafficking. And there is a lot to do.

[Jim walker]

Thailand is a modern country and fully involved in the global politics of the 21st century and would never have anything to do with the slave trade, and if any Thai of any class even a Hi-So caught doing this their feet would never touch the ground and the key would be thrown away.

[metisdead]

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