US Embassy: Keep up the good work
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US Embassy: Keep up the good work

The US Embassy issued a separate statement on human trafficking late Monday, recognising steps taken between April and July by the government but calling for more effort.

The statement was timed for release after the US State Department announced it had left Thailand at Tier 3 for the second straight year for failing to combat human trafficking properly.

"We continue to urge Thai government officials to take bold steps to combat trafficking throughout the ongoing 2016 reporting period and beyond," said the embassy statement, referring to the next Trafficking in Persons report in a year.

The embassy noted popular resentment that this year's report failed to take note of the main achievements by Thailand, which took place after the March 31 deadline for submitting material.

"We welcome additional efforts by the Thai government since March 31 to fight trafficking in persons, including efforts to create special units within criminal courts to adjudicate trafficking cases and the arrests of dozens possibly involved in human trafficking crimes and other abuses against migrants in southern Thailand," it said.

"Actions taken after March 31 will be covered in next year’s report."

It said there are "many committed individuals within the Thai government, law enforcement, and civil society communities who are working hard to reduce and eliminate human trafficking."

Despite cooler diplomatic relations because of the military coup, "Over the next year, we anticipate high-level engagement between U.S. and Thai officials both in Thailand and in international fora on this important issue," the embassy statement said.

Because of political problems in Washington, the US has not had an ambassador in Thailand since shortly after the May, 2014, military coup.

Diplomacy on the US side is handled by a charge d'affaires.

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