Ubon Ratchathani police raid karaoke bars, rescue 44 Lao women

[webfact]

44 Lao women seized from border karaoke bars in Ubon



UBON RATCHATHANI: -- Forty-four Lao women, some of whom aged only 15, were rounded up at seven karaoke bars which serve as a front for prostitution along the Thai-Lao border in Khong Chiam district of Ubon Ratchathani Wednesday night.

Mr Narong Thipsiri, director of the investigation and legal office of Local Administration Department, noted that documents seized from the women showed that they were over 18 but, physically, several of them appeared to be aged between 15-17.

He warned that operators of the karaoke bars which hired underaged Lao women could face charges of human trafficking and liable to heavier punishment.

It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

The raiding party has found notes at one of the bars showing bribes being paid by the operator to several officials in Khong Chiam district, said Mr Narong, adding that the documents would be sent to the government’s anti-corruption committee for an investigation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/44-lao-women-seized-from-border-karaoke-bars-in-ubon


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-18

[Squeegee]

"The raiding party has found notes at one of the bars showing bribes being paid by the operator to several officials in Khong Chiam district, said Mr Narong"

So you just warned them to prepare, you imbecile.

[AlexRRR]

Actually a good move by the operator to keep a record of the bribes and who he's paying, obviously he was paying the wrong people or fell out with who he was paying....i go down you come with me.

[NongKhaiKid]

"The raiding party has found notes at one of the bars showing bribes being paid by the operator to several officials in Khong Chiam district, said Mr Narong"

So you just warned them to prepare, you imbecile.

Accidentally on purpose perhaps ?

[jackinthebox]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

[leeneeds]

Sad they need the money so badly, they will resort to selling their bodies, very old profession that will be around as long as people want such services, and have the money to pay.

Exploitation of the ecnomically poor is a fact of life, SADLY

[zaphod reborn]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

Age can be estimated with a dental exam.

[ChrisY1]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

They look up their date!

[aussieinthailand]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

An x-ray of wrist/hand can ascertain (bone age), so yeah quite possible.

[dhream]

"The raiding party has found notes at one of the bars showing bribes being paid by the operator to several officials in Khong Chiam district, said Mr Narong.

So you just warned them to prepare, you imbecile.

Prepare for What? They're busted, so in what way can they 'prepare'? For Trial? That's about it

[mancub]

So were these unfortunate girls rescued or seized ? Rescued from their evil Thai employers or seized for working illegally doing a job reserved for Thais ?

[dhream]

Sad they need the money so badly, they will resort to selling their bodies, very old profession that will be around as long as people want such services, and have the money to pay.

Exploitation of the ecnomically poor is a fact of life, SADLY

Exploitation of the intellectually poor, and the poor in spirit for that matter, is also rife. It's called propaganda, it's far more deadly and corrosive to the human race than sexual exploitation will ever be. You're right in the thick of it now. Sites like these shape your thinking by how they present stories, oh yes they Do!

[dhream]

I'm reluctant to call out the locals for every tiny thing as many do, but Udon is hardly a farang magnet.

Yet we get the 'blame' for supporting the murkier side of the sex trade all too often here.

If they decriminalised, and taxed and unionised, much of their problems, such as these stories, would be greatly reduced.

Edited December 18, 2015 by dhream

[dhream]

Sad they need the money so badly, they will resort to selling their bodies, very old profession that will be around as long as people want such services, and have the money to pay.

Exploitation of the ecnomically poor is a fact of life, SADLY

You make it sound like a fate worse than Daesh. Many, if not most women who sell sex world wide are quite comfortable with their decisions. It's the morally inept likely who do more harm than good.

Its perfectly natural sex, for goodness sake, not mass murder.

I get bothered because it's this po faced moral squeamishness that aids and abets the exploiters. If it were a morally neutral choice, Women would be better protected, and the criminal element eliminated. Think about it. Or don't, why tackle the hard issues when you can kick the blame upstairs.

[Guitar God]

I wonder how many wanted to be rescued?

[SOTIRIOS]

.......a drop in the bucket......

...what is it called when.......... 'You are welcome here ..............as long as you can be used and abused' .........

[springheeled jack]

it looks as if these girls don't want publicity they don't want to be recognised probably the reason being they don't want their parents to know they were being exploited for prostitution .

[jaywalker]

"The raiding party has found notes at one of the bars showing bribes being paid by the operator to several officials in Khong Chiam district, said Mr Narong.

So you just warned them to prepare, you imbecile.

Prepare for What? They're busted, so in what way can they 'prepare'? For Trial? That's about it

Perhaps prepare for a runner to Cambodia?

[connda]

He warned that operators of the karaoke bars which hired underaged Lao women could face charges of human trafficking and liable to heavier punishment.

That will never happen as long as sufficient gun chaa is supplied to grease the wheels of commerce. Obviously, someone wasn't up-to-date with their "wheel grease".

Edited December 18, 2015 by connda

[DP25]

I wonder how many wanted to be rescued?

It doesn't matter what they want. Thailand is very sensitive to accusations from international NGOs about sex trafficking, and according to their definitions anyone who moves countries to work as a prostitute is a trafficking victim. If that means that legal age Laos women who want to make money in Thailand need to be deported and their finances are destroyed because of it, tough for them, because Thailand needs to appease the NGOs. And the ones that 'appear' too young will be forcibly given medical examinations.

[eldragon]

I'm reluctant to call out the locals for every tiny thing as many do, but Udon is hardly a farang magnet.

Yet we get the 'blame' for supporting the murkier side of the sex trade all too often here.

If they decriminalised, and taxed and unionised, much of their problems, such as these stories, would be greatly reduced.

Sadly, I've seen girls in these rural karaoke bars that appear as young as 11 or 12. But yeah, they must be there to attract the occasional farang that stops by.

[ThaiWai]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

Actually yes. Archeologists do it all the time from ancient remains. It's easier with children as developmental stages are more evident in still developing bones. It would require in xray/scan analysis. Good question though.

[Guitar God]

It probably matters to them. I think "rescued" is the wrong word. if you're drowning you get rescued, if you're swimming it's called "getting dragged out of the pool against your will". I had to stay in Chong Mek overnight because the border closed at 18:30. The hotel I stayed at had 20 something women who appeared to be Lao and didn't seem to be on holiday with their girlfriends. They all had scooters and legs to walk the 500 meters across the border. Nothing to indicate that they were there for any other reason than that they wanted to be there. If Thailand wants to make laws that are different from other countries that condone and regulate prostitution fine. If they want to deport people who are taking jobs from the jobs , fine, but to call it "rescuing" is inaccurate, slanted and poor journalism. If prostitutes in Amsterdam are there illegally they're deported, not rescued. To use the word rescued just makes Thailand look worse.

I wonder how many wanted to be rescued?

It doesn't matter what they want. Thailand is very sensitive to accusations from international NGOs about sex trafficking, and according to their definitions anyone who moves countries to work as a prostitute is a trafficking victim. If that means that legal age Laos women who want to make money in Thailand need to be deported and their finances are destroyed because of it, tough for them, because Thailand needs to appease the NGOs. And the ones that 'appear' too young will be forcibly given medical examinations.

[Bluespunk]

If those in the picture are underage or even trafficked but of legal age they are victims and should not be filmed or photographed by the press/media.

Disgusting behaviour to treat them in such a manner.

[NoshowJones]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

Age can be estimated with a dental exam.

What about people with 'choppers'? No, not me.

[Ks45672]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

Age can be estimated with a dental exam.

What about people with 'choppers'? No, not me.

We will just carbon date you... Don't worry about it too much

[stickylies]

I have a Lao friend who used to work in a local brothel linked to a hotel that supplied the rooms for the action. She worked there 8 months to support her family then returned home. Sad but harsh reality. She was 25 and half an hour costed 700thb room included. She didn't like the job, had bad experiences occasionally but she had her pride. Poverty gets shit done...

[ubonjoe]

A off topic inflammatory post has been removed.

[ldiablo]

>It was reported that 14 of the women who appear to be less than 18 year-old were separated from the rest and sent to Sappasitprasong hospital to determine their exact ages.

Can a physician determine the exact age of someone? How? afaik it is technically/biologically not possible. BTW we have the debate here in germany right now, as thousands of minors from afghanistan and syria enter our country, refusing to tell their age (or don't know it for real).

An x-ray of wrist/hand can ascertain (bone age), so yeah quite possible.

I agree that the bone of a 15 year old is going to be different from say a 30 year old but seriously how different is the structure of a persons bones different from a 15 years old to an 18 years old.

[hgma]

Recent information i gathered is that a 'welcome party' Lao style is awaiting them on the other side of the border.

Re-educate- and social behavior adjustments.

Reason some girls try to sneak in back to Laos without having to go through this.

My personal opinion is that its important to get a grip on the 'agents in Laos' who are transferring them to the 'restaurants'

I keep regular track of the UN activities on this subject and hardly ever i see questions raised over network's and gangs, more about grants and new 'paper' projects.

Sad if 14 year old girls are involved.