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Thailand Government Strengthens Response to Trafficking1

Thailand will establish operation centers to deal with human trafficking at provincial, national, and international levels. The Cabinet, during its meeting on 14 June 2005, approved the structures of the anti-human trafficking centers at the three levels, as proposed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

The centers will work out strategies against human trafficking, collect information, and coordinate with related agencies and organizations. Their operations will depend on the national budget and other funding sources, while their personnel will consist of academics, technicians, policemen, social workers, lawyers, doctors, and other experts.

The Cabinet entrusted the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security with serving as the national center to ease and prevent problems of human trafficking. At the provincial level, a committee, chaired by the provincial governor, will be formed to operate the center. At the international level, the ambassador or the consul-general will head the center operated by a committee. The committee comprises diplomats in charge of labor and security, as well as representatives of other government agencies and members of the Thai community in each respective country.

The Cabinet, in the same meeting, heard a report on the progress of the implementation of the Government’s policy and the national agenda on human trafficking. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced on 6 August 2004 that the Government placed efforts to tackle human trafficking as a priority issue on the national agenda. Citing human trafficking as a crime and an evil trade, the Prime Minister said the Government would deal with this issue in the same way as it is fighting illicit drugs.

In the report, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security said campaigns have been launched through the media to provide knowledge for communities and create networks to fight the problem. Regarding law enforcement, the Government has amended related laws to keep pace with the changing situation. Serious action has been taken against human traffickers. The Ministry has moved to expand international cooperation in anti-human trafficking.

The Cabinet approved in principle an anti-human trafficking bill to be forwarded to the Office of the Council of State for scrutiny. It also gave the green light to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic on cooperation in anti-human trafficking efforts, with an emphasis on women and children. The Minister of Social Development and Human Security, or his representative, was entrusted with signing the MOU on behalf of the Thai government.

In another report, the Cabinet acknowledged the performance of the anti-human trafficking committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai. The committee, established on 31 March 2005, has worked out measures to provide assistance for persons living in Thailand who do not have Thai nationality, but who fell victim to human traffickers here. Part of the assistance involves bringing them back to the Kingdom if they are taken to other countries.

Current laws prescribe both jail terms and fines for convicted human traffickers. Convicted traffickers generally face between six and 12 years in jail, plus fines ranging from 120,000 THB to 240,000 THB. In cases where the victims are aged between 15 and 18 years old, the maximum imprisionment term is 15 years and the maximum fine is 300,000 THB. In cases where the victims are under 15 years old, convicted human traffickers face between 12 and 20 years in jail, and a maximum fine of 400,000 THB.

The punishments are harsher if the convicted human traffickers conspire with more than three persons to run a cross-border human trafficking operation. Members of criminal associations involved in human trafficking are also liable to punishment even if those members are not directly linked to the offence.