STOPPING TRAFFICKING MOVEMENT IN ITS TRACKS
The transnational crime plaguing Thailand in recent years is being treated seriously by authorities, says a government expert. Panitan Wattanayagorn, an adviser to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, says the government is actively trying to fix these issues, placing special focus on fighting human trafficking crimes.
In the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report last year, Thailand was upgraded to the status of a Tier 2 country, meaning it is making significant steps to meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPA) standards, although it has not met all minimum standards yet. This is a step up from Tier 3, where it fell from 2014-15, indicating that the TPA’s minimum standards weren’t met and no strong efforts were being made to fix it.
In the 20-year National Strategy Plan, the government stated its objective to improve laws concerning transnational crimes as well as update the foreign criminal database.
The extradition cases of Indonesia-born Islamist group chief Hambali and Russian national Viktor Bout, an arms smuggler, show the Thai authorities’ determination to ensure foreign criminals stay out of the country, said Mr Panitan.
“The situation has improved a lot,” he said. “In the past, transnational criminals tended to only face charges of illegal entry, which has a relatively small penalty. Nowadays the laws on immigration recognise the link between illegal entry and other crimes such as human trafficking, prostitution or drug selling, meaning that harsher penalties will be dealt.”
In recent years, Thai and Malaysian authorities have worked together closely to keep an eye on any suspicious transnational crime movements along the countries’ borders.
The list of criminal suspects with ThaiMalaysian dual nationalities has grown more lengthy over the past years, said Mr Panitan.
Thailand adheres to some international human rights conventions, but it can still exercise its own judgement in some cases or act according to country-specific extradition treaties.
The country has not ratified the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) 1951 Refugee Convention, instead relying on its own definition of displaced persons. Those who fall under this category have some benefits, such as receiving treatment under the Thai universal healthcare scheme, Mr Panitan said.
Authorities dealing with migrants and refugees are observed by the UNHCR, International Organisation for Migration and other international agencies.
Thailand and other Asean countries are also working together to coordinate crime prevention strategies and criminal justice laws.
The Thai government is watching closely for threats alongside neighbouring countries, but has found no real evidence that any Thai nationals have joined Isis, said Mr Panitan.
“As a strict religious group, Isis may have dismissed Buddhist Thailand as a place to expand its mission,” said Mr Panitan. “In general, the Thai Muslims in the South are non-violent. They cherish their sovereignty and clearly have different ideologies from Isis.”
Officials have nonetheless been instructed to keep an eye on potential “lone wolf” actors, the alienated archetype that seems most inclined to join causes like the Islamic State.
Going forth, the government wants to keep building international ties to collaborate in educating people about migrant rights, eradicating corruption among immigration officers and working with international organisations in the deportation of illegal migrants, Mr Panitan said.
“The issue of transnational crime still exists, but the situation has significantly improved over the years and it’s now at a manageable level,” he added.
Isis may have dismissed Buddhist Thailand as a place to expand its mission
PANITAN WATTANAYAGORN DEFENCE ADVISER