Major Thai trafficking trial opens amid fears for witnesses

[webfact]

Major Thai trafficking trial opens amid fears for witnesses
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE

BANGKOK: -- The trial of 92 suspected human traffickers, arrested after the discovery of shallow graves of migrants in Thai jungle, began in Bangkok on Tuesday and the attorney-general's office said it would be over within a year amid fears about the safety of witnesses.

Traffickers abandoned boatloads of migrants at sea last year after a crackdown by Thai authorities that led to a regional migrant crisis with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh refusing boats permission to land.

Rights groups had expressed fears that a drawn-out case, lasting anything up to two years, could put the hundreds of witnesses at risk because of inadequate police protection.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-trafficking-idUSKCN0WH0N9


-- Reuters 2016-03-15

[docshock13]

"Rights groups had expressed fears that a drawn-out case, lasting anything up to two years, could put the hundreds of witnesses at risk because of inadequate police protection."

Hmmmm. I can see the headlines now: "Charges dropped against all 92 suspected traffickers--key witnesses "escape" police protection"

[leeneeds]

They have an army general , some police, and civilians

Being vunerable if associated with this whole sorry affair

has been brought on by their greed,

No sympathy if proven ,

a date with the machine gun would be too good and quick, more than they deserve,

"Rights groups fears of drawn-out case"

It has to be proven ! you can not put a time limit on some ones life and freedom

no doubt there are just boat operators or pick up drivers in the collection,

They have to have the right to fair hearings under the law, how ever long it takes,

other wise society breaks down , and the LAW becomes a farce,

[craigt3365]

Best of luck considering the top cop assigned to this case is now seeing political asylum in Australia. Out of safety for his life.

[FloridaExport]

Rights groups had expressed fears that a drawn-out case, lasting anything up to two years, could put the hundreds of witnesses at risk because of inadequate police protection.

Those rights groups must not have studied many Thai court cases. They should multiply that figure by 10. This case is going to drag on forever.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Best of luck considering the top cop assigned to this case is now seeing political asylum in Australia. Out of safety for his life.

I was going to say, a pretty crummy Reuters report, overall.

No mention of the missing former top police investigator. No mention of whether he's going to be able to testify. No mention of how that might impact the case.

Last I recall, the government here was talking about the notion of having the police guy testify by live video from Australia, and/or proceeding with the case without his involvement. Haven't heard anything since.

Likewise, no mention of how many, if any, of the defendants in the case are out on bail vs. held in remand. I wonder if the here-unnamed Army general and police defendants in the case have been sitting in jail this entire time???

[WhizBang]

They have an army general , some police, and civilians

Being vunerable if associated with this whole sorry affair

has been brought on by their greed,

No sympathy if proven ,

a date with the machine gun would be too good and quick, more than they deserve,

"Rights groups fears of drawn-out case"

It has to be proven ! you can not put a time limit on some ones life and freedom

no doubt there are just boat operators or pick up drivers in the collection,

They have to have the right to fair hearings under the law, how ever long it takes,

other wise society breaks down , and the LAW becomes a farce,

You mean, like in Thailand.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And after looking at the Reuters article, again, other than referring to the defendants as alleged human traffickers, the article doesn't even say what exact criminal charges have been filed against any of them...

Murder, false imprisonment, assault, negligent homicide? Who knows? And Reuters isn't telling.

[phoenixdoglover]

And after looking at the Reuters article, again, other than referring to the defendants as alleged human traffickers, the article doesn't even say what exact criminal charges have been filed against any of them...

Murder, false imprisonment, assault, negligent homicide? Who knows? And Reuters isn't telling.

The same thing happens with corruption cases. The word "corruption" is used as a catch-all.

[webfact]

Thailand begins major human trafficking trial

BANGKOK (AP) — Prosecutors in Thailand called their first witnesses Tuesday in a major human trafficking trial with 92 defendants, including an army general, implicated in smuggling, kidnappings and the deaths of dozens of people.

The case came to light after more than 30 bodies were discovered last year in shallow graves in southern Thailand, exposing networks that trafficked Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar and held them for ransom in jungle camps before granting them passage to Malaysia.

The case drew more attention when its lead police investigator, Maj. Gen. Paween Pongsirin, fled to Australia and told media there he feared for his life after his findings implicated "influential people" in Thailand who wanted to silence him. Paween said he was too afraid to return to Thailand and planned to seek political asylum in Australia.

Several high-ranking officials were charged, including Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen, a senior army officer who was based in southern Thailand, several policemen, a powerful provincial mayor and local politicians. The 92 defendants have been charged with human trafficking and a variety of other charges. All have pleaded not guilty.

They were led into Bangkok's Criminal Court in prison uniforms and were shackled at their ankles.

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

A sweeping investigation was launched after 36 bodies, believed to be migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, were exhumed from abandoned jungle camps near the Thai-Malaysian border last May.

The first witness Tuesday was a Rohingya man, whose name was not disclosed to the media, who said he was trafficked from Rakhine state in western Myanmar. He said a broker approached him several times offering construction work and a better future in Malaysia. He said the broker told him he would travel on a big boat and have a private room with TV, air-conditioning and three meals a day. Once on the boat he found 270 people crammed on board, strict rules that barred walking around and constant surveillance by guards armed with rifles. During a two-week boat journey, he said, he was served one meal a day of rice with a single chilli.

In addition to those charged, dozens of police officers in southern provinces were removed from their posts and investigated for possible involvement in trafficking syndicates.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-16

[yellowboat]

Best of luck considering the top cop assigned to this case is now seeing political asylum in Australia. Out of safety for his life.

Was wondering where he went. Hope they let him and his family in.

[TPI]

They have an army general , some police, and civilians

Being vunerable if associated with this whole sorry affair

has been brought on by their greed,

No sympathy if proven ,

a date with the machine gun would be too good and quick, more than they deserve,

"Rights groups fears of drawn-out case"

It has to be proven ! you can not put a time limit on some ones life and freedom

no doubt there are just boat operators or pick up drivers in the collection,

They have to have the right to fair hearings under the law, how ever long it takes,

other wise society breaks down , and the LAW becomes a farce,

Thai "justice" has been known to go on for over 20 years.....it's not about a fair hearing it's about how the BIB can be encouraged to look the other way when it comes to witness security! If the trial is protracted then many of the witnesses could, unfortunately, die!!

Its happened before!

[angiolo]

They have an army general , some police, and civilians

Being vunerable if associated with this whole sorry affair

has been brought on by their greed,

No sympathy if proven ,

a date with the machine gun would be too good and quick, more than they deserve,

"Rights groups fears of drawn-out case"

It has to be proven ! you can not put a time limit on some ones life and freedom

no doubt there are just boat operators or pick up drivers in the collection,

They have to have the right to fair hearings under the law, how ever long it takes,

other wise society breaks down , and the LAW becomes a farce,

Exguse me ,but i thought the law is a farce