Thailand anxiously awaits US report on human trafficking
Today is the day and it will become clear to Thailand whether they have made sufficient progress in the fight against human trafficking. The US State Department's 2015 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report will be released by the Secretary of State John Kerry will be presented and provide insight into human trafficking in 188 countries.
This report has far-reaching consequences for Thailand's economy, because if Thailand remains on the Tier 3 list (last year the country was relegated from Tier 2 to Tier 3), Europe and the US will probably decide to boycott fisheries and other products from Thailand.
Thailand has recently taken measures to tackle slavery in the fishing industry, but whether it is enough to be removed from the Tier 3 list is the question. The TIP report is based on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Governments that meet the criteria of the law are on the Tier 1 list. The Tier 2 list is for countries that are not committed enough and the Tier 3 list is for countries that are not doing anything at all.
Critics in Thailand defend themselves by questioning the reliability of the report. They point to Malaysia. The country would be upgraded from the Tier 3 to the Tier 2 list, according to Reuters news agency, because Malaysia can then become a member of the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. An economic interest for the US.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said the Prayut government had made significant progress in the fight against human trafficking. Suspects have been arrested and are being prosecuted. This even applies to senior officials, police officers and military personnel. However, human rights activists believe that there is still not enough happening in Thailand.
Panitan also questions whether the US is independent and uses the list to protect its own economic interests. Panitan thinks that the US is not happy that Thailand is establishing economic ties with China and Russia, for example.
Human rights activists have a different opinion and believe that Thailand should take matters into its own hands. The country only started taking measures at the end of March, after the deadline of the new TIP report. Any progress made after that will only become visible in the 2016 report: 'Thailand will have to accept being reprimanded for human trafficking. This must now be tackled firmly and effectively. The TIP report is a manual for this because it not only contains criticism but also provides recommendations.”
Source: Bangkok Post – http://goo.gl/swfKEe
Open the new york times: 2 pages full about thai human trafficking, partly even on page 1. I don't think Thailand will escape it..
I myself am not really aware of the Thai developments regarding this problem. Most of the reports I receive are from Western organisations. Thailand does not come out very favorably there.
I constantly wonder what the Thai consumer thinks about it.
Does the subject of slavery get enough attention in the Thai media or is this also seen as undermining the government? I have already heard about a trial of an Australian and a Thai journalist.
Will the Thais themselves not boycott, for example CP-food and Lotus?
Here is some useful information for the necessary imaging:
http://ejfoundation.org/sites/default/files/public/EJF_Thailand_TIP_Briefing.pdf
http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/
The reports that reach me are as shown in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6ieOeOxaVE
I'd love to get more responses. But I hope to get more clarity about what Thailand actually does.
I have read the piece “Government girds for TIP rating” (Source: Bangkok Post – http://goo.gl/swfKEe), but I also received via FB:
Australian & Thai journalists on trial in Thailand for reporting on trafficking of Rohingya migrants; Thai Prime Minister threatens to execute those who don't “report the truth.”
The journalists are on trial for republishing a Reuters report on Thai naval officers' alleged involvement in the trafficking of Burmese Rohingya migrants. The Thai navy has denied any involvement, but the government has arrested a senior military official after investigations.
What is the real state of freedom of expression in Thailand? I'm really worried.
The New York Times today devoted 2 pages to the 'sea slaves of Thailand'. I think there will be a ban.