PHUKET: Representatives from all 10 Southeast Asian nations will meet in Kuala Lumpur in August to discuss human trafficking and solutions for the region, an Interpol officer said today.
''The movement of Rohingya boatpeople through the region will be part of those discussions,'' said Ian Rotsey, Coordinator of the Chemex Terrorism Prevention Unit, which is based at Interpol's headquarters in France.
He said the August meeting would be aimed at coordination among Customs, Immigration and other law enforcement authorities to better prevent human trafficking across Southeast Asia.
Forced to flee ethnic cleansing and repression in Burma, the Muslim-minority Rohingya continue to mysteriously arrive at human traffickers' camps in southern Thailand in their thousands without the intervention of Thai authorities on land or at sea.
Usually reliable sources told Phuketwan this week that the flow of Rohingya from Burma is continuing because larger vessels, capable of sailing through the monsoon season, are now being used to carry boatpeople south all year long.
According to informed sources both close to the Burma-Thai border and in the south, at the Thai-Malaysia border, about 2000 Rohingya are currently being processed by human traffickers through Thailand.
There were roughly 400 people hidden on an island off Ranong, the major port on the Thai-Burma border, 700-800 more Rohingya being held in secret in jungle camps around Pedang Besar, on the border with Malaysia, and another 400 in secret camps a little further north, around the Songkhla province city of Hat Yai.
A decision is expected any day on Thailand's status in the annual US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report.
Representatives in the Thai embassy in Washington say the country has done enough to improve its ranking to Tier 1 from Tier 2, where it has been listed for four years.
Observers suggest it's more likely that Thailand will be downgraded to Tier 3, alongside Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Iran and Zimbabwe, and suffer possible sanctions.
The flow of thousands of Rohingya through Thailand continues to be carried out by sea with little information supplied by Thai authorities, although it is known that each captive Rohingya has to pay 60,000 baht to be trafficked to Malaysia.
With estimates of Rohingya passing through Thailand now ranging as high as 80,000 men, women and children a year, that makes trafficking through Thailand a 4.8 billion baht annual industry for those who benefit from the process.
The reaction of the Army coup commanders, who assumed control of Thailand on May 22, is likely to become known soon after Thailand's new TIP status is announced.
About 50 participants from eight countries are taking part in the Interpol conference in Patong until June 20. Ian Rotsey said in his opening remarks that ''the new phenomenon of the transnational fighter has blurred the lines between the terrorist and the tourist.''
''Police and other law enforcement and government agencies must share information, share intelligence, share skills, knowledge and lessons learned so that they can stand together to face the threat of chemical terrorism.''
The same transparency is required in dealing with refugees being moved illegally by traffickers from country to country to prevent confusion between national security issues and international human rights issues.
''The movement of Rohingya boatpeople through the region will be part of those discussions,'' said Ian Rotsey, Coordinator of the Chemex Terrorism Prevention Unit, which is based at Interpol's headquarters in France.
He said the August meeting would be aimed at coordination among Customs, Immigration and other law enforcement authorities to better prevent human trafficking across Southeast Asia.
Forced to flee ethnic cleansing and repression in Burma, the Muslim-minority Rohingya continue to mysteriously arrive at human traffickers' camps in southern Thailand in their thousands without the intervention of Thai authorities on land or at sea.
Usually reliable sources told Phuketwan this week that the flow of Rohingya from Burma is continuing because larger vessels, capable of sailing through the monsoon season, are now being used to carry boatpeople south all year long.
According to informed sources both close to the Burma-Thai border and in the south, at the Thai-Malaysia border, about 2000 Rohingya are currently being processed by human traffickers through Thailand.
There were roughly 400 people hidden on an island off Ranong, the major port on the Thai-Burma border, 700-800 more Rohingya being held in secret in jungle camps around Pedang Besar, on the border with Malaysia, and another 400 in secret camps a little further north, around the Songkhla province city of Hat Yai.
A decision is expected any day on Thailand's status in the annual US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report.
Representatives in the Thai embassy in Washington say the country has done enough to improve its ranking to Tier 1 from Tier 2, where it has been listed for four years.
Observers suggest it's more likely that Thailand will be downgraded to Tier 3, alongside Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Iran and Zimbabwe, and suffer possible sanctions.
The flow of thousands of Rohingya through Thailand continues to be carried out by sea with little information supplied by Thai authorities, although it is known that each captive Rohingya has to pay 60,000 baht to be trafficked to Malaysia.
With estimates of Rohingya passing through Thailand now ranging as high as 80,000 men, women and children a year, that makes trafficking through Thailand a 4.8 billion baht annual industry for those who benefit from the process.
The reaction of the Army coup commanders, who assumed control of Thailand on May 22, is likely to become known soon after Thailand's new TIP status is announced.
About 50 participants from eight countries are taking part in the Interpol conference in Patong until June 20. Ian Rotsey said in his opening remarks that ''the new phenomenon of the transnational fighter has blurred the lines between the terrorist and the tourist.''
''Police and other law enforcement and government agencies must share information, share intelligence, share skills, knowledge and lessons learned so that they can stand together to face the threat of chemical terrorism.''
The same transparency is required in dealing with refugees being moved illegally by traffickers from country to country to prevent confusion between national security issues and international human rights issues.
Well, the Junta already made their stance on Human Trafficking very clear in the ILO meeting in Geneva. Thailand being the only nation in the world that voted against protecting victims of forced labor and human trafficking.
After fierce international condemnation they reversed their stance a few days later but they've already shown their cards.
When those in charge have such appalling attitudes towards this issue, there's little hope of things getting any better.
Thailand truly deserves to be put on Tier 3 list and sanctions applied.
Human traffickers make money out of slave trade, it's time they are made to pay for it. Literally.
Posted by ThaiMike on June 17, 2014 14:38
Editor Comment:
ThaiMike, that decision to go one-out in Geneva was reversed within 48 hours, so I think your dour view of attitudes really needs to await more information, the way that most other people are. It could have been, for example, that the original Geneva decision was made by the former government, not reviewed but then quickly corrected by the generals. This is yet another issue that's too important for guesswork.