The drive against human trafficking, a national agenda item, is one positive policy set by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Only one month after the Prayut government was formed, the US downgraded Thailand in its annual Trafficking in Persons report.
This means past governments have done little to effectively tackle this issue. The TIP report, plus human trafficking and abuse in Thailand’s multibillion-baht fishing industry which could lead to possible sanctions, prompted Gen Prayut to act.
Action has included changes in laws and regulations, the registration of foreign labour, changing procedures on how police, prosecutors and the courts work, which includes setting deadlines for investigations and court decisions, and establishing a database of trafficking cases. Similar efforts were made in fisheries — labour registration and vessels, tracking systems.
But the real bottom line is implementation, namely tough disciplinary and legal action against officials — irrespective of the colour of their uniforms — who turn a blind eye to or are involved in human trafficking. This is the ultimate test of Gen Prayut’s national agenda. It has been frustrating for the prime minister to get here. On a number of occasions he’s expressed frustration at bureaucratic inaction and inertia. At inter-government meetings he has asked what had they been doing in the past.
He doesn’t express these frustrations publicly because he does not want to wash dirty linen in public. But the fact is Thailand’s track record in tackling human trafficking is already out in the open. So when he was questioned about a possible cabinet reshuffle and about Thai fishermen stranded in Indonesia prior to his trip to Brunei, it triggered a sharp rebuke.
Gen Prayut threatened to punish journalists after media reports of a conflict between two top ministers and on human trafficking in Thailand. He reminded reporters he still has powers under the National Council for Peace and Order to deal with them. He also sarcastically said "execution" was a possibility when challenged on how he intended to deal with them.
Not surprisingly, international news agencies picked up on the comment leading to such headlines overseas like: Thailand PM Prayut says he will probably "execute journalists who do not report truth".
"It's only you [media] who talk about a reshuffle. Tell me if a reshuffle will improve anything under these circumstances? If newspapers want to boost sales, so a reporter or editor must quit, will this help? Solving a problem is not that easy," Gen Prayut said.
The premier said he would monitor the media and reminded people that the NCPO had powers to act against the media. When he was asked how he would shut up the media, Gen Prayut said: “Execution perhaps? Don’t ask silly questions. The media only needs to be careful and stick to ethics.”
His response to Channel 3’s investigative report on Thai fishermen in Indonesia once again revealed his dislike for airing the country’s problems publicly. While stressing his government is trying to solve this problem, the media needs to consider the damage it does to the nation and Gen Prayut asked who would take responsibility if income from fisheries is affected.
The premier’s comments need to be taken in context. He is not going to execute journalists. That said, he should not have used the word execution or criticise the media for doing their job in highlighting a long-standing problem.
Gen Prayut’s tone and the media’s role in reporting it changed dramatically on his return from Brunei. He addressed an Associated Press investigative report, which highlighted trafficking in the Thai fisheries chain, and said the media and the government were on the same side. Either the premier realised his mistake or someone whispered some valuable advice.
As a soldier and young officer, he was trained to take orders. But as he rose up the ranks, he issued orders. It is unlikely he can change, and he knows this. He is not a politician, but yet he is prime minister. And as prime minister he must keep his emotions and frustrations in check. He should implement his fight against human trafficking at ground level. Root out the networks and penalise all concerned, especially government officials.