Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has pledged to speed up investigations of human trafficking cases which involve corrupt officials.
"The number of trafficking cases involving state officials has increased since 2014 [due to increased suppression], but the investigations should be making faster progress. The authorities have to solve their cases more quickly," he said.
According to the prime minister, 150 suspects have been identified in connection with the trafficking of Rohingya migrants after authorities cracked down on detention camps in Padang Besar, Songkhla province, in early 2015. Of the 150, at least 89 have been arrested, including government officials, police, militants, local politicians and influential figures.
The prime minister, however, said only 34 officials involved in the offences were suspended from duty or faced disciplinary punishment. Mr Prayut was speaking yesterday at Government House to mark Stop Human Trafficking Day, at a function held by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.
Ambassadors, foreign diplomats and international organisations were also present at the event. An anti-trafficking memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and representatives from the United Nations and civil groups was signed to strengthen cooperation.
"Success today is only the first step, I want there to be 100% success which means that there will be no more human trafficking networks in Thailand," said the prime minister.
His government spent 2.6 billion baht last year on tackling human trafficking, of which 508 million baht was spent on dealing with illegal fishing activities and human trafficking in the fishing industry, Gen Prayut said.
Parinya Boonridrerthaikul, coordinator of Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons, applauded the government for tackling human trafficking, particularly the Rohingya cases.
Prosecutions against human-trafficking networks cut the illegal transport of Rohingya people into Thailand from 25,000 from January to March last year to a projected 6,000 in the next three months, she said.
"However, the government has not completely stopped human trafficking activities in the country. Almost half of suspects are still at large -- justice must be served," said Ms Parinya.
