The omission of the fisheries issue from a recent hearing of a powerful US House committee on human trafficking has given Thai authorities a brief respite from claims that our record in fighting human trafficking is wanting.
Rohingya boat people from Myanmar display grief and exhaustion at an immigration detention centre in Sonkhla after being rescued. Despite the better labour situation in the fisheries industry, Thailand still risks facing trade boycotts from the US stemming from the Rohingya problem. (Reuters Photo by Damir Sagolj)
The Rohingya issue dominated the hearings chaired by Chris Smith, head of the House Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organisations late last month.
Thai authorities were mentioned in relation to the Rohingya, particularly claims that authorities were involved in smuggling them across our borders.
However, authorities take heart from the fact that trafficking in relation to the fisheries industry and sex trade — two other areas in which Thailand's record is also criticised — did not get a mention.
Our performance in these areas could determine whether Thailand is downgraded in next month's US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Authorities suggest one reason we escaped scrutiny at the hearings in these areas is because they are making progress in fighting the trafficking scourge.
Thailand has been on the TIP’s tier 2 watchlist for three consecutive years and the country needs to convince the US that it has made significant improvement if it is not to be downgraded further.
If it slips to the Tier 3 category, the US is likely to impose restrictions in non-humanitarian and non-trade related assistance — or trade boycotts.
Songsak Saichuea, director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s American and South Pacific Department, says he believes Thailand can expect a better ranking this year now the country has tightened anti-trafficking measures in the fishery industry and the child and sex trade as required by the TIP office.
"It’s one of our top priorities. Some international organisations such as the ILO recognise our efforts, and the progress we have made," he said.
Mr Songsak said more trafficking cases are now being prosecuted, which is further evidence of how well Thai authorities are tackling the problem.
"We have sped up the judicial process, with no case exceeding one-and-a-half years," he said.
More than 670 trafficking cases were investigated and a total of 483 defendants were prosecuted last year.
Of that number, he said, 225 culprits were punished with jail sentences, ranging from six months to more than two years; and at least four received more than 30 years in jail. Altogether, 33 police were punished, he said.
More importantly, authorities have developed multi-disciplinary measures to better handle trafficking issues.
Police, prosecutors and the Department of Special Investigation have worked together to ensure quick prosecutions, he said, and police have set up a special task force to deal with human trafficking.
We are also working more with NGOs, civic groups and entrepreneurs.
Authorities also pay attention to the victims welfare, with over 680 put in shelters last year.
Mr Songsak said authorities will also improve surveillance systems on fishing boats to prevent forced labour. They are also working on getting fishing boat operators to standardise contracts offered to crews.
The director-general insisted only 10-15% of fishing operators may still be involved with forced labour.
"I wouldn’t say the problems have gone completely in the fishing industry, sex and child trade. But we we have really done a lot in the past year," he said.
He said new measures would include providing easier access to legal assistance for victims. They will also spend less time in shelters and applying for jobs.
But the emergence of the Rohingya issue at last month’s US hearing is a matter of concern. It’s the first time the Rohingya issue was raised at the congressional panel level.
Panelists said they were concerned some state officials have a hand in trafficking.
Backing up the testimony, human rights advocates from 18 organisations over the weekend launched a campaign urging the US government to immediately downgrade Thailand’s tier ranking as punishment for its handling of the Rohingya issue.
Thai state and human rights agencies differ in how they categorise this stateless Muslim group, who use southern channels to sneak into Thai territory while waiting to enter job markets in Malaysia and other neighbouring countries — their final destination.
Initially, Thai authorities were reluctant to identify Rohingya boat people as trafficking victims. Or if they do, they maintain most of the boat people are in "irregular migration" circles with their movements handled basically by smugglers.
They conceded, however, there are certain conditions that make these unfortunate people at risk of being exploited or victimised by trafficking rings.
Mr Songsak insisted authorities will take action if evidence comes to light of Rohingya falling victim to trafficking gangs. But in many cases, the evidence is not clear. A victim identification process should help with this process.
Human rights advocates, however, insist many of these stateless people are indeed victims of trafficking, Meanwhile, discrimination and ethnic cleansing in Myanmar have accelerated the movement of these stateless people out of their hometowns.
Geographically, Thailand is a migratory transit point, where boat people drop by to refuel and replenish stocks of food. They also wait for their chance to cross the border.
While Thailand lacks the resources and infrastructure to accommodate these boat people, trafficking networks have expanded.
There are cases that show blurred lines between smuggling and trafficking with growing suspicions that some unscrupulous authorities are involved in this illicit affair.
At the same time, deportation of these unfortunate people sparks condemnation; but to keep them here longer creates new problems, as the Rohingya have no wish to stay in Thailand, not to mention detention centres, which currently hold some 1,000 Rohingya.
Thailand needs new measures to deal with the Rohingya issue. Multi-disciplinary work on victim assistance must continue while trafficking networks must be wiped out.
What is working in the fishery industry must be applied to the Rohingya issue where possible; while more pressure must be brought on Myanmar to accept their return.
Next month, we will know our TIP ranking fate. In another sense, however, it may not matter.
As director-general Songsak asserts, the whole issue is more about humanitarian principles — about how we treat this group of people looking for a better place to live.
"It’s not because we want to please the US. The heart of the matter is that we have to help them as fellow humans by protecting them from trafficking," he said.
Ploenpote Atthakor is deputy editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.