Thailand accelerates on anti-human trafficking moves

BANGKOK, March 29 (TNA) - A top Thai government spokesman says the caretaker government of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha is attempting to permanently resolve the country’s notorious human trafficking problem, which has been left untouched by the previous governments. Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said a quick resolution on the issue would paint Thailand a good image and at the same time enhance its fishing and related industries. His remarks were made after former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra rebutted criticisms from the incumbent government that her administration had done nothing to resolve the issue whilst in power. On June 20, 2014, Washington downgraded Thailand in its annual report on Trafficking in Persons and dropped the country to “Tier 3” after holding the kingdom on the Tier 2 warning list for four consecutive years. The US had accused five Thai industries - shrimp, textiles, sugarcane, pornographic materials and fisheries - of using child and forced labor. In further discussions about the Thai fishermen stranded and rescued from Indonesia, Maj. Gen. Sansern told reporters that six fishermen were expected to return home this Wednesday after 21 of them were sent home on March 27 through official channels. He said Gen. Prayut had ordered that stern measures be used to permanently stop the use of illegal trawlers and forced labour, in order to preserve the country’s fishing industry and also sustain international maritime relations with countries where Thai fishermen work. (TNA)