The junta takes the American Trafficking in Persons report 2014 seriously. Thailand's demotion from the Tier 2 Watch list (warning) to the Tier 3 watch list (insufficient) is due to lack of compliance with anti-trafficking laws and corruption of authorities.
This says Phaiboon Khumchaya, who is responsible for legal affairs in the NCPO. He announced yesterday that the military authority is looking at how to deal with this problem.
Security services and the Ministry of Justice have been asked to discuss how the law can be implemented efficiently, so that loopholes in the law are closed. "It's a chronic problem that we have to solve."
The NCPO will also talk to the police and the judiciary. Phaiboon: 'How is it possible that of the 600 to 700 human trafficking cases, only 100 to 200 have been sent to court? We want to know what's behind that delay. […] In order to solve the problem effectively, it is necessary to look at fisheries outside Thai waters. That's where the problems with migrants and human trafficking stem from.'
Phaiboon announced that the shipowners will be asked to provide information about the embarkation of their crew, living conditions on board and where the crew will go after work is done.
Degradation has limited effect
Yesterday, Phaiboon's assistant Chatchai Sarikallaya met with representatives of various ministries. The consequences of the TIP report and measures that can be taken to minimize the consequences were discussed. Although the downgrading is expected to have only a limited effect on Thai products, the relevant authorities will do their best to clarify the matter in order to avoid possible trade sanctions.
Those who are skeptical about the production process of Thai products are invited to come to Thailand and collect the required information first hand. According to the industry, the data in the TIP report are inaccurate and incomplete, especially those relating to the shrimp industry. “We need to clarify that,” says Chatchai. [See commentary by the Thai Fishery Producers Coalition in News from Thailand of Thursday.]
So far there have been no reports of orders being canceled, but some orders have been suspended, said Srirat Rastapana, Permanent Secretary of the Commerce Ministry. But she is confident that trade will pick up again after Thailand has shown its determination to tackle the problem.
So-called one-stop service centers have now been opened in three border provinces, where returning Cambodians can obtain a temporary work permit: Chong Chom (Surin), Khlong Luek (Sa Kaeo) and Phak Kat (Chanthaburi). A center has also been opened in Laem Ngop (Trat) and one will open in Kap Choeng (Surin) on Monday.
(Source: Bangkok Post, June 27, 2014)
More about the TIP report in:
Human trafficking report: Junta reacts soberly, ministry is aggrieved
Human trafficking: Thailand gets a big fail from Washington