US Ambassador believes Thailand can achieve Tier 1 on TIP Report

[webfact]

US Ambassador believes Thailand can achieve Tier 1 on TIP Report

BANGKOK, 1 July 2016 (NNT) – The US Ambassador to Thailand has expressed belief Thailand will be able to rise to Tier 1 on the United States’ Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report after the Kingdom was able to move up from Tier 3 in the latest study.

The US’s latest TIP Report has elevated Thailand to Tier 2 from Tier 3 on its Watch List of nations in terms of human trafficking. The improvement has been touted by the government as a result of its hard work and dedication to the issue since assuming office and acknowledging Thailand’s position at the lowest possible status.

The latest report added 8 nations to its Watch List, including Thailand’s neighbor Myanmar, which has been placed at Tier 3.

US Ambassador to Thailand H.E. Glyn T. Davies has commended Thailand’s efforts against human trafficking and voiced his confidence that the country will be able to rise to Tier 1 on the Watch List in the future. He also remarked that Thai-US relations will likely improve in all aspects in the future.

-- NNT 2016-07-01

[phoenixdoglover]

Thank you, Coach Davies, for those inspirational words.

[jamesbrock]

Thank you, Coach Davies, for those inspirational words.

Yes, I'd like to read his diplomatic cables...

[rkidlad]

Oh, for sure!

Why stop there? Let's start some minus tiers for good little countries. Can give out colourful certificates and pats on heads.

[hanuman2543]

Are the US so desperate for countries joining their free trade agreement, after the EU most likely will back off?

[gandalf12]

I do remember him saying that. I think he was performing at the House of Comedy at the time

[DoctorG]

Geo-politics at work.

[Emster23]

"can" or "will be able"? Of course they "can" reach level 1. What is usually lacking is the political will do to so. Denmark is not on the list. If Denmark can do it (just random choice, btw) Thailand can. Perhaps "could be able" preferable to "will be able".

[elgordo38]

Geo-politics at work.

Rubber necking and rubber stamping. I wonder if Mr. Davies received a swipe from Article 44 club or maybe was spirited away to the indoctrination camp in the middle of the night. Get serious folks it's the people vs politicians plain and simple. Politicians DO NOT REPRESENT your best interests only their own and the political company they keep.

[marcusd]

These comments and the garbage support for these regimes who are out of favour 2 years ago but now seemingly in favour are the sole reasons why people are just fed up with current ruling elites,, USA GERMANY EURO UNION, the lot!

this is why Trump will probably win and Merkel will be out

Why Putin is popular and how Hitler came to poiwer

History repeating itself as NO PERSON LEARNS.

USA is leading the way on kissing dirty ass and this is why people are now looking for an alternative to status quo parties. ALL over the world things are getting uneasy

[Lupatria]

After a couple of debatable statements he made in the past, I wonder if he"s just fishing for compliments, or if he"s just trying to secure his shares in Walmart.

[Srikcir]

Why stop at Tier 1 for Thailand?

USA should create a Tier 0 reserved for countries which it will completely ignore human rights abuses in exchange for special benefits.

[upena]

The upgrade was from Tier 3 to Tier 2 Watch List

[Deli]

How much is it ?

[dunque]

Are the US so desperate for countries joining their free trade agreement, after the EU most likely will back off?

Perhaps you ought to read the article first - it has nothing to do with free trade. I think you are knee-jerking at TIP thinking it is related to TTIP - it isn't.

[klauskunkel]

US Ambassador believes Thailand can achieve Tier 1 on TIP Report

It's Stroke-A-Country Day today in America, and Thailand is "it".

[lucky11]

Geo-politics at work.

Rubber necking and rubber stamping. I wonder if Mr. Davies received a swipe from Article 44 club or maybe was spirited away to the indoctrination camp in the middle of the night. Get serious folks it's the people vs politicians plain and simple. Politicians DO NOT REPRESENT your best interests only their own and the political company they keep.

You lot just cant stomach the Junta's successes - god it must hurt!!.

[waldroj]

Maybe, Thailand should not get to cocky about this - the US can just as easy slap them back to Tier 3.

Then, they'll be left with egg on their faces - especially as the Thai Poultry Industry looks like being exposed as being just as "fowl" as its Fishing Industry smells fishy.

For starters, see http://www.globalpost.com/article/6779415/2016/06/29/thai-food-giant-drops-chicken-farm-over-labour-abuses

[atyclb]

can it be to try to counter the chinese sphere of influence and score brownie points?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Once again, the Thai government's news service has foreign officials commending Thailand -- without ever actually quoting their actual words, whatever they may have been.

Anytime I read NNT paraphrasing any foreign official without an actual verbatim quote (which they rarely provide), I've learned to totally ignore the statement at best, and at worst, assume that what the official probably actually said was pretty much opposite what NNT is reporting them to have said.

NNT regularly has Thailand being commended for its human rights efforts, even when on the same day, outside news sources reporting on the same events have them being criticized.

[spidermike007]

I am curious as to how many arrests have been made lately, of high level human traffickers, and slave traders within Thailand? Have not heard of any. Have they been prosecuted? Have not heard of any trials or prosecutions lately. Have they been improsoned?

If not, how are they improving the level of trafficking? What about the fishing fleets? Thailand is famous the world over, for using slaves from Burma and Cambodia, on the fishing fleets. Have any CEO's of major Thai corporations been brought to justice lately? Any captains been arrested?

If not, one wonders where the progress is coming from. Is it magic? Is is accomplished by a mantra of some sort? Or is it accomplished by the little man wishing it to happen.

One wonders. One questions. Always question the US govt. Always question the Thai government. Neither are earnest. Neither are transparent. Neither are about truth, justice, or equality among people.

[SOTIRIOS]

....again...no direct or verifiable quote to back up the headline.......

....strange......

[gemguy]

He does not really believe that...rather that is a friendly public relations and media relations statement released to make everyone happy happy...sabai, sabia.

Meantime...behind the scenes.... he is telling everyone else in secret:

"What else am I supposed to say as anything else or any criticisms are not going fix anything at all rather better to play charades with the Thais and appease them and everyone needs to smile for the camera....as it all looks good and all part of the political maneuvering.

Cheers

[Robm579]

Geo-politics at work.

Rubber necking and rubber stamping. I wonder if Mr. Davies received a swipe from Article 44 club or maybe was spirited away to the indoctrination camp in the middle of the night. Get serious folks it's the people vs politicians plain and simple. Politicians DO NOT REPRESENT your best interests only their own and the political company they keep.

You lot just cant stomach the Junta's successes - god it must hurt!!.

"Success"... What measure are you using to make that comment...?

It's marginally less bad than it was... Hardly a success... Try writing something critical of government or monarchy here in this forum and see how long it stays up...defore being deleted...!

[connda]

Did the Eye of Sauron just give a nod to TPP?

[connda]

US Ambassador believes Thailand can achieve Tier 1 on TIP Report

Just sign on the dotted line.

TPP

.......................................

Thailand

[spidermike007]

The State Department, in general, has done a horrible job dealing with Thailand, during the Prayuth era. The US has a very complicated relationship with democracy, in other countries. We support democracy, even if it means destabilization of society (Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Algeria come to mind), and get terribly upset if a country does not accommodate our wishes for democracy. I am not saying I would not prefer democracy here, but in the absence of it, we have bungled the relationship about as badly as can be imagined. The lack of delicacy with which he have treated Thailand, has led to a huge loss of face for them, and a chilling of relations, despite a special relationship. Obama has once again demonstrated a nearly complete grasp of the foreign policy issues, and Kerry the neophyte does not help either. And in the interim, we treat Cambodia far, far better, even though some of the progress there has been marginal at best, and a strongman despot still runs the place.

So, this ambassador is left with a terribly uncomfortable job. I guess he has to say something.

[gemguy]

The State Department, in general, has done a horrible job dealing with Thailand, during the Prayuth era. The US has a very complicated relationship with democracy, in other countries. We support democracy, even if it means destabilization of society (Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Algeria come to mind), and get terribly upset if a country does not accommodate our wishes for democracy. I am not saying I would not prefer democracy here, but in the absence of it, we have bungled the relationship about as badly as can be imagined. The lack of delicacy with which he have treated Thailand, has led to a huge loss of face for them, and a chilling of relations, despite a special relationship. Obama has once again demonstrated a nearly complete grasp of the foreign policy issues, and Kerry the neophyte does not help either. And in the interim, we treat Cambodia far, far better, even though some of the progress there has been marginal at best, and a strongman despot still runs the place.

So, this ambassador is left with a terribly uncomfortable job. I guess he has to say something.

So, this ambassador is left with a terribly uncomfortable job. I guess he has to say something.

Yes correct, he has to say something.

"I love living in Thailand".

"The Thai people are so friendly and.........................................................................................................Thai food is so delicious".

End of speech....lol

Cheers

[locorigodan]

Why stop at Tier 1 for Thailand?

USA should create a Tier 0 reserved for countries which it will completely ignore human rights abuses in exchange for special benefits.

Yes totally agree and not to mention their own human trafficking problems in their southern borders..When your own economy is non productive you go after others, this is how the grand U.S.A. conducts its self globally, the Iraq, Libyian and Syrian crisis are all a result of the U.S.A. destablising for their own gains and means, the global refugee crisis is directly their fault..its all about controlling other countries..It appears to be on the outside about human trafficking ,really its about gaining more security control...I say keep your filthy blood stained hands out of Thai business, really who do they think they are??

[tuanku]

Are the US so desperate for countries joining their free trade agreement, after the EU most likely will back off?

Perhaps you ought to read the article first - it has nothing to do with free trade. I think you are knee-jerking at TIP thinking it is related to TTIP - it isn't.

It is widely believed by analysts that Malaysia did not also fall to tier 3, despite an equally dismal record, because of its support for the TTP

It is related, just not acknowledged.