U.S. is reportedly upgrading Malaysia Tier3 trafficking rating to Tier2.

Rights groups protest.

But Malaysia interior minister said, that it s not known whether bodies found near the border belongs to illegal immigrants. This statement is brilliant!

http://reut.rs/1INfChW

Posted by Sue on July 10, 2015 06:57

The thought of thailand spending so much money on submarines is unbelievable. Apart from "willy waving" what on earth are they going to do with them ? It's hardly as if thailand need to launch missiles on foreign countries from the other side of the world! Who are they going to attack? Sweden? Holland? Ireland ?

That money would be far better spent building a properly paid and trained police force for example.

And we all know, thailand never budgets for maintenance, so within a few months of them coming into service they will likely be out of action with faults that have no budget to be repaired

Apart from pandering to the chinese (the next world superpower so not a bad idea) these are an utter waste of money !

Posted by Discover thainess on July 10, 2015 07:47

How Thailand Trafficking was Revealed. It is worth reading.

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 10, 2015 08:27

Ian,

isn't Lieutenant General Manus Kongpa, who led Internal Security Operations forces in the sea and without doubts had contacts with Rohingya boats, as per report, those "naval forces"..? For me it looks, he is..

Posted by Sue on July 10, 2015 10:04

Thailand trafficking story is very interesting

Posted by Michael on July 10, 2015 10:34

I remember Thailand tried to buy submarines before but it was blocked then by the government in power. Which government, I cannot remember as they change faster than a revolving door.

Amyway, what do they need submarines for? To intercept the Rohingya's wooden boats without being spotted? To police the Similans?

& I agree about the spares issue - they won't be long in service.

Posted by Logic on July 10, 2015 16:14

"How Thailand Trafficking was Revealed" is a good article and summary to get anyone up to speed quickly on the Rohingya issue, if you've had your bloody head under a rock for the last few years - just kidding.

By osmosis however, as it is written by Reuters, one could infer with some confidence that this new article would bode well for Alan and Chutima, coming as it does on the eve of the landmark trial.

HEY! Alan and Chutima were simply walking in the footsteps of a "giant elephant" named Reuters - when they ironically copied a tiny portion of a previous article on these same Rohingya, by the same Reuters group.

The Navy vs Phuketwan case is sort of like the guy who cuts off his nose to spite his face - or the guy who blows up his 4,000 square foot house with dynamite - to get rid of one or two pesky house flies that buzz around in a perceived irritating, unwanted fashion.

There is only one truth in any matter and the truth is, the charges against Phuketwan by the Royal Thai Navy are (with all due respect to the Royal Thai Naval institution as a whole) unwarranted, unjustified, and ridiculously over-the-top in terms of (faux?) zealous indignation on the Navy's part, in what amounts to two journalists following an untouchable giant, and picking up a "dropping or two" along the way.

Stay tuned folks, for it's gonna be a doozy - the Trial that is - IF the outcome is not predetermined already. If it is, then God help us all, 'cause we're gonna need it like never before baby..

Posted by farang888 on July 11, 2015 03:33

Hi Sue

Yes, I believe Lt General Manus and the personnel under his command easily fits into the vague term of "Thai naval forces."

You will recall that Phuketwan and the South China Morning Post have a picture of Khun Manus on an island with Rohingya refugees, which picture was taken many years ago. Indeed, in some old news reports Khun Manus is described as a Thai Navy Captain, which according to Ed was a false description. At the relevant time he was a colonel which is the equivalent rank of a navy captain.

It does illustrate however how the media reports can contain errors or be vague. Witnesses can make errors. Journalists can make errors or make false assumptions.

I suspect that Reuters sometimes used vague terms in its reports because the reporters were uncertain about which branch of Thailand's police, military, border protection and security forces were involved. So Reuters perhaps fudged its stories at times. Witnesses won't necessarily know that a grey military looking ship or boat might belong to one of many different organisations.

Sue It also occurred to me that Phuketwan could have approached all sorts of people to seek a comment before publishing. PW could have approached militia commanders, marine police, Thai pirates, customs, immigration, and the merchant navy (although the merchant navy might not be considered as a force).

Cheers
Ian Yarwood
Solicitor. - Perth, Australia

Posted by Ian Yarwood on July 11, 2015 06:54

Ian
Ed

then here we go - "Thai naval forces" are apparently identified indeed :) (happy) (y)

this message surely can be transmitted to those who not in the know of these particular details..

Posted by Sue on July 11, 2015 10:42