Trafficking: 'All US demands met'

Trafficking: 'All US demands met'

Don says call to enact trafficking laws met

The government is expecting positive feedback from the United States on its efforts to fight human trafficking, says deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

Thailand has made significant headway with its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) progress report this year, he said Tuesday.

The US wanted better law enforcement against traffickers and their networks, and Thailand has responded to this request with the arrest of 21 defendants in 18 trafficking cases, he said.

The arrests were made by the Royal Thai Police between Jan 1 and Feb 13, and details would be sent to the US.

Expanded investigations into 280 cases reported in 2014 led authorities to two networks of sex trade traffickers, three networks of forced labour, and one for smuggling Rohingya and laundering money, Mr Don said.

Regarding government officials involved in human trafficking networks, the deputy foreign minister said several cases are under investigation, and some officials, including police, have been dismissed.

Around 105 trafficking victims came under the care of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDH) between January and February, the deputy foreign minister said.

When asked whether Thailand can expect positive feedback from the submission, Mr Don said: "Yes, hopefully.''

On the problem of trafficking in the fisheries industry, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that since October last year, the ministry had helped 176 Thai fisheries workers who had been stranded overseas. 

Of them, 167 have returned to Thailand, six are scheduled to arrive in the country today, and three are waiting for their documents to be processed.

Meanwhile, 57 Thai fishermen stranded on Ambon island in Indonesia have made contact with a Thai multi-agency panel there and asked to return to Thailand.

Regardless of why they are there - escaping labour exploitation aboard fishing vessels or being arrested by Indonesian authorities for illegal fishing  - the panel will look into their problems and work with local officials to help them, Social Development and Human Security Minister Pol Gen Adul Sangsingkeo said yesterday.

Ministry officials, along with those from the Consular Affairs Department, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and police, travelled to the island on Friday on a nine-day mission to help Thais in need and identify corpses at a local cemetery believed to be those of Thai nationals.

A group of 57 Thai fishermen, 39 from Myanmar, 3 from Cambodia and two from Laos told the panel they want to return home.

DSI officials on the island are questioning the troubled fishermen and gathering evidence for their probe into a human trafficking link in which three suspects are implicated so far, said the DSI's Anti-Human Trafficking Centre chief Pol Lt Col Paisit Sangkhapong.

Two of the suspects have been arrested and authorities have warrants for the other suspect, he said.

The panel also plans to inspect 82 Thai fishing vessels on Indonesian waters for illegal activity, Pol Gen Adul said.

Details of all state action on the problem including its affects on the fisheries industry are included in the report on Thailand's anti-trafficking measures that was ready to be sent to the US authorities yesterday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.

Any state officials found guilty of wrongdoing will face criminal charges and disciplinary action, he said.

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