Shrimp slaves wait for justice 8 months after Thai raid

[rooster59]

Shrimp slaves wait for justice 8 months after Thai raid

MARGIE MASON, Associated Press


PATHUM THANI, Thailand (AP) — Nearly eight months ago, migrant worker Tin Nyo Win thought he was doing the right thing — the only thing — to help free his pregnant wife from slavery inside a Thai shrimp peeling shed. He ran for help and prompted police to raid the business, freeing nearly 100 Burmese laborers, including children.

Yet the couple ended up first in jail and then held inside a government shelter, even though they were victims of trafficking. That's where they remain today with a few other workers from the Gig Peeling Factory, waiting to testify in a slow-moving court case while their former employers are free on bail. Angry and frustrated, they just want to go home.

"I feel like I've been victimized three times. Once in the shrimp shed, the second time in ... jail and now again in the shelter," Tin Nyo Win said on a mobile phone smuggled in by another Burmese worker.

"Even prisoners know how many years or months they will be in prison, but we don't know anything about how many years or months we'll be stuck here," he added. "It's worse than prison."

On Thursday, Thailand was lifted off the U.S. State Department's blacklist, where it had been listed for the past two years as one of the world's worst human trafficking offenders alongside North Korea, Syria, Iran and others. Some activists saw the upgrade as a political move by Washington to appease an ally, and 21 labor, anti-trafficking and environmental groups expressed their disappointment in an open letter to Secretary of State John Kerry.

The Thai government lobbied hard ahead of the announcement, saying new laws have been passed to help protect victims. The government also said that 241 human traffickers were sentenced in 2015, and 34 officials are facing prosecution for involvement or complicity in the trade.

But critics say low-level people or brokers from other countries are typically the ones jailed instead of Thai business owners, corrupt police or high-ranking officials.

"Debt bondage for migrants is still the norm, and police abuse and extortion happens on a daily basis all over the country," said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch in Bangkok. "While it's good that prosecutions are going up, the reality is that we're still talking about the tip of the iceberg here."

The country has been under international pressure to clean up its $7 billion annual seafood export industry, including the threat of a seafood import ban from the European Union. An Associated Press investigation last year uncovered a slave island with migrant fishermen locked in a cage and buried under fake Thai names. The reporting, which led to more than 2,000 men being freed, followed the slave-caught seafood to Thailand and on to American dinner tables.

The investigation also focused on the Gig Peeling shed in Samut Sakhon, just outside of Bangkok, where Tin Nyo Win and his wife, Mi San, were forced to work 16 hours a day. They had to rip the guts, heads and tails off shrimp that entered supply chains feeding some of America's biggest companies, including Red Lobster, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart and most major U.S. supermarkets. Many companies have said they are taking steps to prevent labor abuses.

Col. Prasert Siriphanapitat, the Samut Sakhon deputy police commander, said witness testimony began in April in the Gig shed case against three Thai defendants and two Burmese brokers. Only one Burmese suspect has been located. He added that new laws mandate quick prosecution of human trafficking, meaning the Gig case will likely be closed by the end of the year. But Tin Nyo Win said he and his wife have not spoken to a prosecutor or been informed about the case's progress.

Suwalee Jaiharn, director of the country's Anti-Trafficking in Persons division, said Thailand's eight shelters are there to protect undocumented workers and denied that those housed inside are prohibited from leaving. She added, however, that some victims of trafficking are more closely monitored if they are expected to testify in criminal cases.

"We are protection centers and not detention centers," she said. "There is an exception when some victims are witnesses in human trafficking cases. We have to give them extra protection."

Suwalee said Thailand's laws allow victims to testify ahead of their trials so they can go home quickly, or stay and work in the country. But aid workers said these options are rarely made available to migrant workers, leaving victims to wait in facilities far from home.

"Somebody's always ordering you, and you are always under watch by someone and having to get permission all the time. This is totally what trafficking victims would have gone through while they were being trafficked," said Ohnmar Ei Ei Chaw, senior case adviser at the Bangkok-based nonprofit Project Issara, which assists trafficking victims. "It is very difficult for them to feel empowered and like their needs are being met."

For the first few months that Tin Nyo Win and Mi San were in the shelter, they said they were not allowed to have a phone. They couldn't leave the shelter unaccompanied. They couldn't work.

"If victims see that when they come forward they are kept in government shelters but not given freedom to work and move around, then what incentive do they have to come forward?" said Susan Coppedge, the U.S. anti-trafficking ambassador.

Following a supervised interview with AP at the shelter last week, Tin Nyo Win spoke candidly on a call. He said restrictions eased a couple of months ago, and victims can now have a phone and go outside the compound unsupervised. However, only eight people from the Gig case are still in the shelter, after 12 undocumented workers ran away. Those who remain worry they will never be compensated for unpaid wages and the abuses they suffered.

"My sister is in another shelter. She is 17 years old, and we have no chance to see each other. I've asked permission to see her many times, but I'm not allowed," said Hkin Tet Mun, 31, adding that phone calls to her sibling are also prohibited. "I'm worried about her, and my sister wants to stay with me."

Win Kai, 19, said he's also desperate to leave, but feels trapped.

"My family is so worried about me," he said by phone. "I don't want to stay in the shelter. Can you help me quickly?"

Tin Nyo Win's wife, now seven months pregnant, rubs the growing bump under her bright flowered shirt. She yearns to have the baby at home, where she can be with her sick mother. But her husband says he won't go — even if it means missing the birth of his child.

"We want to show the boss that we are really victims, and we want to show this to the court," he said. "We want to see justice carried out."

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-07-02

[jamesbrock]

I feel this is a much more factual and believable take on the matter then the National Propaganda Network's story posted earlier...

[clockman]

This is the real face of justice in Thailand. No body who is rich gets punished. And Thais are still slave traders. Send this to the American diplomats.

[rkidlad]

One of the many reasons why being put on tier 2 is a joke.

[metisdead]

A post containing a derogatory slur toward Americans has been removed.

[Prbkk]

Anyone interested in this story should look at the piece on ABC Australia website regarding the workers on a chicken farm/factory. Published yesterday and not good in the wake of the US decision.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-01/case-of-chicken-farm-slaves-highlights-thai-labour-problems/7561714

Edited July 2, 2016 by Prbkk

[SOTIRIOS]

...yet their ranking has improved....

...makes sense about someone wanting to score points against The Chinese....

[z42]

Absolutely appalling. Upgrading the Thai govt to tier 2 while things like this are going on is about as reprehensible as it gets. Not only are the problems not tackled at their source, but the actual victims end up being jailed, and then deprived of liberty, finances and livelihoods when "freed". I feel desperately sorry for those people. The officials involved in giving these people such a rough deal deserve to be locked up, or better still strung up. Sick and so very very wrong

[spidermike007]

Again, the US has huge amounts on egg on it's face, for caving in so easily, in a bald attempt to improve relations, after their amateur hour statesmen soured relation some time ago, with their childish and ignorant statements about (false) democracy. All the while they offer nearly unlimited support for Thailand's neighbor Cambodia, which has been run by a strongman despot for decades now.

Meanwhile, as usual, Thailand is doing nothing meaningful, but arrest a few long hanging fruitcakes. The little man again blows an opportunity to make good on his word, which is now meaningless, and incomprehensibly tarnished.

[300sd]

This is disgusting. Thailand, you can't get much lower than this.

[Chicog]

This is disgusting. Thailand, you can't get much lower than this.

Don't be daft. It's Thailand. Of course they can.

[Yann55]

QUOTE : On Thursday, Thailand was lifted off the U.S. State Department's blacklist, where it had been listed for the past two years as one of the world's worst human trafficking offenders alongside North Korea, Syria, Iran and others. Some activists saw the upgrade as a political move by Washington to appease an ally, and 21 labor, anti-trafficking and environmental groups expressed their disappointment in an open letter to Secretary of State John Kerry.

1/ If Thailand was listed as one of the world's worst human trafficking offenders, how on earth could such a problem have been solved in two years ? Anyone with two cents of brain can see that it is utterly impossible, even if the local authorities were truly and totally committed to eradicating this plague. Which they aren't, no matter what virtuous songs they sing to appease human rights organizations, and that's plenty obvious for anyone who follows the news and knows a few basic things about most Asian political systems.

2/ If the people who lifted the ban do have two cents of brain under their skull, how can they live with themselves after doing that ? What kind of people are they ? I remember John Kerry in many situations being so cocksure and patronizing, talking about human rights as if he owned them. Well ... is that politician concerned about human rights, primarily, or about politics ? A rethorical question of course.

3/ 'Some activists saw the upgrade as a political move by Washington' ... And some activists are bloody well right.

Politics will always be given precedence over human rights, and not just in Asia (here it's just more in your face). To change that would require changing humanity in such a deep and radical way that the likeliness of seeing pigs fly while singing La Traviata is a lot higher.

Edited July 2, 2016 by Yann55

[WhizBang]

Is anyone really surprised? We all knew all the recent hot air out of Prayut et al was just to appease the media and give lip service. There was never any intention to actually do anything substantial, such as arresting and prosecuting officials who are neck deep in this.

The USA should be ashamed of themselves. These 'ratings' reports they do are nothing more than political tools.

Now it will be back to business as usual.

[elgordo38]

This is the real face of justice in Thailand. No body who is rich gets punished. And Thais are still slave traders. Send this to the American diplomats.

No sense in doing that the politicians and other government flunkies have circled the wagons on this issue. The next guy that thinks about blowing the whistle will think twice. They got you coming and going. As the poster above says you have to be rich to escape punishment here.

[natway09]

Mr General,

Please do something useful & sort this out.

What you say Sir is, I command you to finalize & finish these cases in say another 12 months

[lvr181]

Typical "lip service" by authorities. Say much, do little.

These trafficking victims should be treated far better than what the authorities are doing for them. The U.N. running scared as well?

[worgeordie]

Jail the messengers,.best place to keep them quiet,that's Thailand's

way of thinking,after all they are only Burmese.

regards worgeordie

[Basil B]

I am sure the decision by America has nothing to do with reduction in slave labour, we all know with America it has more to do with politics, economics and back room deals.

[oldsailor35]

If the yanks are so willing to give Thailand these type of upgrades, they should have inspectors on the ground here in Thailand. Inspectors who can receive complaints and follow cases of slavery, and enforce protection for these people. Anyone who lives here know that it is constantly going on. The Thai authorities will say anything to clear themselves with no apparent checks on these statements. Shame on the American govt.

[off road pat]

This is disgusting. Thailand, you can't get much lower than this.

Oh yes they can,......and you see it in the news on a daily basis,.....! after all, this is Thailand.!?!?

Edited July 2, 2016 by off road pat

[Usual Suspect]

Hope the American citizens can one day learn about the plight of these slaves entrapped within the Thai seafood industry when they are buying their prawns/shrimps at knock-down prices in Walmart & other outlets.

A hard-hitting documentry on prime-time TV would maybe get the message across to them..?

[chuang]

One of the many reasons why being put on tier 2 is a joke.

What did America get in return ?????

[Winniedapu]

I confess to not understanding the mindset of anyone who can exploit other people in the ways described, nor those who (like the little general), knowingly refuse to punish those who do, despite clear infringement of national and international laws.

I cannot understand why these people are 'people' at all. It seems clear to me they have more in common with animals and should be treated accordingly, both those who behave in this way to their fellow man, and those who protect and shelter those who do. Sadly. Thais are not best known for their morality or principles, they should be treated like the animals they behave like.

I do not understand people for whom covering up crimes is better than admitting they happen.

Winnie

[Wilsonandson]

Don't buy tinned tuna, the nets they use trap and kill innocent dolphins. This is what people used to say to me years ago. So I only bought canned tuna with a symbol on it saying dolphin safe.

Why not have a similar campaign for this migrant slave fishing issue.

No migrants slaves were used to catch these shrimps sticker on the product.

Just a thought!

It's not just one way. The profiting big companies need to help stop slavery too.

[mike324]

if the large western supermarkets would boycott buying shrimps from Thailand, the Thai shrimp industry would collapse and force the owners to change for the better....

but in the end it would be up to the Thai government to enforce laws and make the owners responsible....jailing one or two would set a good example for the rest