US missionary arrested for smuggling North Koreans into Thailand

[webfact]

US Missionary Arrested for Smuggling North Koreans into Thailand
By Khaosod English


Korean-American Lee Isaac Byundo sits on the right at a police news conference Tuesday in Nong Khai province.

NONG KHAI — A Christian missionary from the United States was arrested Monday for smuggling seven North Koreans into Thailand.

Police Col. Pallop Suriyakul, commander of the Nong Khai Immigration Police, said yesterday the arrest came after police were alerted 17 June that the North Koreans – six men and one woman – had crossed the border illegally from Laos into Nong Khai province.

“After inquiring them for their purpose of travel, they have relatives in their destination country, which is South Korea,” Pallop said.

Based on footage from security cameras installed along the roads, police tracked the car that carried them into Thailand and identified the driver as Korean-American Lee Isaac Byundo, Pallop said.

The court issued an arrest warrant for Lee on 27 July, and police took him into custody Monday. Lee has been charged with aiding them enter the kingdom illegally. The seven North Koreans are currently being held by immigration police, police said.

Lee has worked as a Christian missionary in Thailand for 19 years, Pallop said, and told police he was contacted by an American in Laos to help bring the group into Thailand.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1438757712


-- Khaosod English 2015-08-05

[EnzoRippo]

Junta version of "fighting human tafficking".

Very funny but not sure it will help to reach TIER 2 in the US rating.

[Bluespunk]

Lets hope they are allowed to reunite with their families in South Korea. The alternative of repatriation will not end well for those fleeing North Korea.

Down to the South Korean govt it seems.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Bluespunk

[ratcatcher]

Lets hope they are allowed to reunite with their families in South Korea. The alternative of repatriation will not end well for those fleeing North Korea.

Down to the South Korean govt it seems.

And what's the missionary's position? Is he on top of things with his defense or is he going to get screwed by the RTP?

[skildpadden]

Well I guess it can be technically speaking trafficking if that is what RTP wants to charge him with, but don't start thinking that arresting a guy who helps North Koreans get to South Korea is the same as targeting the refugee death camps in the South, fishing slaves or the trafficking of poor girls to brothels in e.g. China.
I hope the South Korean embassy grants them entrance.

[OnTheRun]

^{Mr Lee has made several mistakes. He should have enlisted the help of someone high up in the authorities, paid out bribes, ensured the people he was 'helping' were destined for slave labour or prostitution. That would have ensured minimal interference from the authorities.}

^{I hope these people are sent to S Korea. If they are repatriated to N Korea only one outcome awaits.}

[Borzandy]

Hoping Thais don't return these 7 people to North Korea. I not sure Thais really know what is the right way.

[Baerboxer]

^{Mr Lee has made several mistakes. He should have enlisted the help of someone high up in the authorities, paid out bribes, ensured the people he was 'helping' were destined for slave labour or prostitution. That would have ensured minimal interference from the authorities.}

^{I hope these people are sent to S Korea. If they are repatriated to N Korea only one outcome awaits.}

Sadly, their families in NK may also suffer that outcome. Pout le courage les autres type thinking.

[user82374298374]

Looping through Thailand is a usual route for escapees from North Korea who're headed to South Korea.

In the past, the Thai authorities left them alone, as Thailand was an anticommunist bulwark and partner in the US in its strategy of containment.

The fact that this arrest was made and publicized is intended to serve the triple purpose of telling the U.S. that two can play the 'human trafficking' game; to please the North Korean regime, to which Thailand is at least nominally snuggling up as a fellow 'outcast' regime and again, to stick a thumb into the eye of the U.S. vis-a-vis 'democracy' and 'human rights' criticism'; and thirdly, to please the Chinese, who still find North Korea a useful (if extremely vexing) foil against the U.S. and its allies.

In particular, arresting a U.S. citizen in Thailand for 'human trafficking' (Korean-American though he may be) is a very pointed message.

Edited August 5, 2015 by disambiguated

[mango66]

Lets hope they are allowed to reunite with their families in South Korea. The alternative of repatriation will not end well for those fleeing North Korea.

Down to the South Korean govt it seems.

And what's the missionary's position? Is he on top of things with his defense or is he going to get screwed by the RTP?

he will get screwed up by RTP,

because RTP likes Thaks..., and they like Kim Jong Un !

He bring rules in his country,

that RTP also would like !!

[mango66]

they will send this refugees back to NC for execution like the Ighurs they sand back to China !!

Because for Thailands Gvt and RTP this countries are " Very safe for their citicens "

like thailand !!

[Bluespunk]

Hoping Thais don't return these 7 people to North Korea. I not sure Thais really know what is the right way.

The Thai authorities have already said if the South Korean govt will take them they will send them there.

[Katipo]

Oh look, surprise surprise, they've found a foreigner to be their scapegoat for human trafficking. This should be able to draw local headlines away from the real issues for a few days. Sadly, I doubt the international community will give Thailand much kudos for this one.

[Bluespunk]

they will send this refugees back to NC for execution like the Ighurs they sand back to China !!

Because for Thailands Gvt and RTP this countries are " Very safe for their citicens "

like thailand !!

In this case no. The Thai authorities have said it is the South Korean govts decision. If South Korea will allow them in then the refugees are free to go there.

[atyclb]

Trafficking implies "exploitation". Although technically entering the country illegally is there, it's being done for humanitarian purposes

[realenglish1]

Lets see what the Thai authorities do. Sending them back to N Korea is not an option. Sending them to the south or settling them here is an option

[DM07]

Yeah, 7 North Koreans ...uuuuhhh...that's bad!

Never mind the hundreds of Burmese, who are sold into slavery or the Rohinga in those graves in the Jungle!

I am always glad to see, that Thailand really get's priorities right!

[MobileContent]

I think they will send those guys to South Korea and the the US citizen will get a fine and possible deported back to the US. Its still people smuggling

[Richard Hall]

Junta version of "fighting human tafficking".

Very funny but not sure it will help to reach TIER 2 in the US rating.

Most likely not. Guess they come up now with TIER 4. Thailand lured American into human trafficking or something like that. The Pemium World is quite creative in this respect. Sometimes it appears Washington is the new Hollywood.

Similarities with real events not intended.

[sammygood]

should he get jail time or a medal ?

[AlQaholic]

They should celebrate him as a Hero. Disgusting....When will the illustrious Thai Authorities send the Koreans back to North Korea? Like the Uighurs....

Edited August 5, 2015 by AlQaholic

[SOTIRIOS]

....duh.......wonder why the word 'espionage' was not brought up once....

[mrfaroukh]

Halla luya

[Basil B]

Hope he dose not expand his business empire to Calais...

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Looping through Thailand is a usual route for escapees from North Korea who're headed to South Korea.

In the past, the Thai authorities left them alone, as Thailand was an anticommunist bulwark and partner in the US in its strategy of containment.

The fact that this arrest was made and publicized is intended to serve the triple purpose of telling the U.S. that two can play the 'human trafficking' game; to please the North Korean regime, to which Thailand is at least nominally snuggling up as a fellow 'outcast' regime and again, to stick a thumb into the eye of the U.S. vis-a-vis 'democracy' and 'human rights' criticism'; and thirdly, to please the Chinese, who still find North Korea a useful (if extremely vexing) foil against the U.S. and its allies.

In particular, arresting a U.S. citizen in Thailand for 'human trafficking' (Korean-American though he may be) is a very pointed message.

And the US will/can reply in a thousand ways with pointed messages if it wanted. I however expect the answer to come through the mass media, which will show the Thai government for what it is. The Thais are coming to a gun battle armed with a needle.

[fstarbkk]

The authorities must be pretty desperate to have something to show for their efforts to get out of "Tier 3" status. Nailing this missionary to the cross may be good for the stats, but may not impress the U.S. very much.

My best wishes are with the 7 Koreans and their families.

Edited August 5, 2015 by fstarbkk

[razer]

I'm thinking it was Panorama that did the story ... but Thailand was the safest route for North Koreans to get to South Korea.

Hardly people trafficking.

[soalbundy]

They should celebrate him as a Hero. Disgusting....When will the illustrious Thai Authorities send the Koreans back to North Korea? Like the Uighurs....

let us not jump ahead of ourselves, nothing is disgusting yet. The Thai's will send them to S. Korea if that country will take them. Wait for the facts before you try to go mainstream.

[soalbundy]

....duh.......wonder why the word 'espionage' was not brought up once....

That is obviously a concern for S. Korea as previously some so called escapees turned out to be spies.

[casualbiker]

Looping through Thailand is a usual route for escapees from North Korea who're headed to South Korea.

In the past, the Thai authorities left them alone, as Thailand was an anticommunist bulwark and partner in the US in its strategy of containment.

The fact that this arrest was made and publicized is intended to serve the triple purpose of telling the U.S. that two can play the 'human trafficking' game; to please the North Korean regime, to which Thailand is at least nominally snuggling up as a fellow 'outcast' regime and again, to stick a thumb into the eye of the U.S. vis-a-vis 'democracy' and 'human rights' criticism'; and thirdly, to please the Chinese, who still find North Korea a useful (if extremely vexing) foil against the U.S. and its allies.

In particular, arresting a U.S. citizen in Thailand for 'human trafficking' (Korean-American though he may be) is a very pointed message.

And the US will/can reply in a thousand ways with pointed messages if it wanted. I however expect the answer to come through the mass media, which will show the Thai government for what it is. The Thais are coming to a gun battle armed with a needle.

Did he break the law. Yes!

Did he get caught. Yes!

So therefore he gets arrested, it's generally what happens when you break the law!

If this was the Mexican/US border and the group were a family running from the cartels would it be illegal to enter the US without the correct paperwork. Off course it would be!

For those that say Thailand is a loop for North Koreans getting to South Korea a question. How?