US believed not to suspend aid to Thailand

BANGKOK, September 22 (TNA) - The United States is anticipated not to suspend assistance to Thailand, following a recent decision by Washington to maintain Thailand in the bottom-line Tier 3 watchlist of countries for human trafficking concerns. Songsak Saicheua, Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, under the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the assessment while opening a seminar in Bangkok on Monday, saying that Washington should release an official list of countries in the Tier 3 category which are not entitled to receive US assistance by October 25. Songsak noted that concerned Thai officials held a conference via satellite with the US State Department last Friday on Washington's proposal on Thailand to review 20 items related to human trafficking. Thailand has remained in the US bottom-line Tier 3 watchlist of countries for human trafficking concerns since July 27, 2015 and, in principle, the US government should announce its aid suspension to the countries within 90 days, or by October 25. In the worst case scenario, Songsak foresaw, US aid should be only suspended on Thailand’s education and cultural fields. The senior official insisted that the Thai government is seriously resolving human trafficking-related problems by increasing penalty against wrongdoers and providing protection to informants. Washington has, so far, sent two senior officials to provide training to the Royal Thai Police and the latter has proposed that the US side give wider knowledge on human trafficking. (TNA)