Thailand disappointed with US human trafficking report, to continue cooperating with Washington

BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) - Thai Ambassador to the United States Vijavat Isarabhakdi has expressed disappointment with Washington's Friday decision on downgrading the Thai Kingdom on its human trafficking watch list, from Tier 2 to Tier 3. Vijavat said that the US decision, stated in its Trafficking in Persons Report issued on June 20, appeared to have not recognized Thailand's vigorous, government-wide efforts which have yielded unprecedented progress and concrete results in the problem. But the top Thai envoy insisted that Bangkok will continue working closely with Washington on combating the human trafficking problem and in other issues. Speaking at a press conference in Bangkok on Friday morning, Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow also expressed his disappointment with the US decision, saying that he respectfully disagreed with the US decision and calling for the United States to reconsider the decision. Citing Thailand's failure to meet minimum standards in fighting human trafficking, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced in Washington on Friday (local time) that Bangkok was, therefore, moved from the US Tier 2 to Tier 3 Watch List, like Malaysia and other 21 countries, including Iran, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Zimbabwe. Kerry's remarks were part of the annual US assessment, from April 2013-March 2014, of how 188 governments around the world had performed in fighting the human trafficking problem and other forms of exploitative labor. (TNA)