Leonie Kijewski

 

Human rights observers criticised on Friday last week’s decision by a Thai provincial court to acquit two defendants in a human trafficking case involving 11 Cambodians rescued from a fishing boat early last year.

 

The provincial court of Ranong on Thursday acquitted defendants Ruengchai Pewngam, captain of the boat, and Somchai Jettanapornsamran, owner of the fish market in the region, of all charges, and ruled that the victims “were aware that they were going to work on board a fishing boat”, according to a release by the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF).

 

The court ruled that the fishermen could have resisted their alleged captors when the ship encountered Thai authorities, despite not speaking any Thai, according to the release. HRDF said it also justified harsh treatment by the captain towards the workers because of the men’s lack of professional experience.

 

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/thai-court-acquits-pair-accused-trafficking

 

 

-- © Copyright Phenom Pen Post 27/03

Kanchana Akarachart, HRDF’s Anti-Labour Trafficking Project Assistant, said the verdict could be “a step back undermining the Thai government’s concerted efforts” to improve conditions on fishing boats.

Kim Chenda, chief of the National Police’s office of anti-human trafficking, said the agency is currently collecting information on a broker in Cambodia connected to this case.

 

That is an understatement! Except I doubt there is a concerted effort taking place. These atrocities continue unabated. Little P. has done little to nothing to change this catastrophe. His people have too much to lose, and the victims are poor and helpless. The kind of people the elite here love to prey on, and profit from. 

 

Human trafficking, and the slave trade continue to this day, to be one of the largest boils on the face of Thailand. An abomination, and absolutely deplorable behavior on the part of the army, the police, and this administration. They deserve ALL of the criticism they are getting from the world community, and far more. 

And of course the court ruling proberly had nothing to do with the boat belonging to somebody in the government.  5555

I too  am subjected  to  slavery. The  Tax man takes  52% of  anything  I have  worked  to get! Yes indeed, slavery  continues  for the  elite !