The misery of male slavery

The misery of male slavery - The Nation

"Amid despair at the trafficking of women and children, men too are being treated as less than sub-human. The fight against human trafficking has for more than a decade tried to protect women and children, often forgetting that men, too, are victims of "new slavery".
Thailand remains one of the region's busiest human-trafficking centres.

The National Human Rights Commission has looked into the stories of some of these forgotten victims - male migrant workers not recognised as casualties of the trade. The commission reports that between July 17 and July 19 of 2003, six fishing trawlers with about 100 crew sailed from Tha Chalom in Samut Sakhon province to fish Indonesian territorial waters. Most of the crew were migrant workers and four were younger than 16. None were allowed home leave for three years. The trawlers returned to Thailand in July last year.

Thirty-eight never returned, dying on the job. Two were buried on one of Indonesia's myriad islands and the rest unceremoniously dumped at sea. One more crewmember died shortly upon his return. Others returned home seriously ill - emaciated, emotionally disturbed and unable to see, hear or walk properly. A Samut Sakhon Hospital medical report diagnosed the men with serious vitamin deficiencies. They had suffered months without proper food or water, eating only fish.

None have been paid. Yet, they are not considered by law to be victims of human trafficking. When they demanded compensation their "employers" claimed the men were unknown and said crew employment was the responsibility of trawler skippers. The boat owners refuse to pay until the men can prove they were aboard.
Complicating the issue is the registration of the men under Thai names. They are all Burmese, Mon and Karen migrant workers. They discovered the labour law in this country does not cover fishermen working outside Thai territory for more than a year.

But, a new memorandum of understanding on Common Guidelines for Concerned Agencies Engaged in Human Trafficking and the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Bill are rays of hope. Men are covered by both documents. The memorandum was signed last week and broadens the scope of a similar 2003 document. That included "children and women" only in its target groups. Concerned agencies in 17 northern provinces signed it and it has now expanded to cover men.

The memorandum will bring Thailand and its Social Development and Human Security Ministry up to world standards of protection. Thailand is regarded as a "country of origin, transit and destination" for trafficking victims. The government announced in 2004 that combating the trade was a priority. It provided national mechanisms, Bt500 million in funding and operational centres to fight trafficking.
But, as its name suggests, the 1997 Prevention and Suppression of Women and Children Trafficking Act does not help men.

Trafficking goes beyond the sex industry and child labour and many cases involve men, Sub-Committee on Coordination for Combating Trafficking in Children and Women chairperson Saisuree Chutikul said.
The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Bill is before the National Legislative Assembly. "[In the draft] we changed the wording from "women and children" to "human trafficking" because we found trafficking involves male victims," Saisuree, one of the world's leading voices in the fight against the trade in people, said.

"I would like to congratulate the government on recent Cabinet approval of the amendment and look forward to a positive outcome in the legislative assembly," said UNICEF's Tomoo Hozumi. "UNICEF is ready to support implementation once the legislation is enacted."

Nevertheless, women and children continue to be victims of trafficking, both within Thailand and abroad. While victims from this country are declining, people from Burma, Laos, Cambodia and China have replaced them. Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Tak are transit destinations for these victims. More than 250 routes have been found in these provinces. Last year in Chiang Mai alone 114 children and women victims were rescued. Almost all were from Burma, according to Rossukon Tariya of the human security ministry in Chiang Mai.

Note: The 17 northern provinces which signed the new memorandum are: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Mae Hong Song, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, Sukhothai, Uttaradit and Uthai Thani.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas - The Nation

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

uses third world countries as slave or cheap labour. None of this would possible without the help of giant western corporations and dopes like Reagan , Thatcher right up to Blair and Bush who between them all have decimated their industries and handed over manufacturing to China et all.

With Germany now the world's biggest exporter we can see that much of Europe sensibly avoided the excesses of the ludicrous Thatcherism and Reaganism.

Walmart-the end of civilization as we know it.

uses third world countries as slave or cheap labour.

...and making them rich in the process. Where do you think the likes of Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and now China would be had they not been used as a manufacturing base for the West? They'd still be living in trees!

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

and what's wrong with that ?.. a nice tree-house is where they say you go on the very first level after you die..according to the Thai Buddhist monk I saw on TV a few days ago.

I think you need a visit to China..the 50 million newly wealthy middle class don't represent the 1.3 billion poor..who will be long dead before anything trickles down to them.

Besides-it's all going to implode..just ask Homitern..he knows the truth.

You may prefer to keep the little brown people barefoot and living in trees, but if you ask the people of Taiwan and Japan they'll tell you they are quite attached to their modern condos, cars, air conditioning, mobile phones, and other vestiges of western "slavery".

[bucknaway]

So it is everyone's fault but the people at fault LOL

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

"You may prefer to keep the little brown people barefoot and living in trees,"

an imperialist with missionary zeal out to "educate" the little brown people away from their primitive ways.

I didn't know that the Japanese, Taiwanese etc were all the same race but maybe you know better and think all "little brown people" think the same! :glasses10:

"You may prefer to keep the little brown people barefoot and living in trees,"

an imperialist with missionary zeal out to "educate" the little brown people away from their primitive ways.

I didn't know that the Japanese, Taiwanese etc were all the same race but maybe you know better and think all "little brown people" think the same! :glasses10:

*sigh*

I think you need a visit to China..the 50 million newly wealthy middle class don't represent the 1.3 billion poor..who will be long dead before anything trickles down to them.

Hi Lunchtime,

That's why Communism doesn't/didn't work!! Everyone wants to be first among equals!

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

Communism has been a huge success in China, Russia and Vietnam..considering the alternative if it hadn't happened...and socialism will be the saving of South America.

However it was the great philosopher Bertrand Russel who 70 years ago predicted that the East would become like the West and visa versa..and that's what's happening with Russia and China-embracing capitalism while the US and GB embrace fascism.

"You may prefer to keep the little brown people barefoot and living in trees,"

an imperialist with missionary zeal out to "educate" the little brown people away from their primitive ways.

I didn't know that the Japanese, Taiwanese etc were all the same race but maybe you know better and think all "little brown people" think the same! :glasses10:


Lunchtime,

I know what your post means especially the last paragraph, and I agree with you, they are not at all, the same.

I don't like being referred to as a Farang!!

English, German, American, Australian, wherever you come from, We have vast different cultures, lifestyles and ideals.

And before anyone jumps on the computer keyboard to send a post about France and/or the Thai name for a Potato etc etc

I KNOW ALREADY!

So do the Thais. It is offensive, it is generally meant offensive and although some of the younger Thais are merely mimicking their peers, It is offensive.

Equally, it is one of the few countries in the World that would refer to an American black as a "negro".

Whether it be by ill education or not keeping up with the times, Thailand's government, when they get one, needs to wake up, smell the coffee and re educate people, especially in their manners to outsiders.

They do have more polite words, such as " Tang Chart" [ I won't apologise if they English spelling of a Thai word is not accurate , as the Thais never do} which is all encompassing to describe outsiders and people not of these shores.

Two more points,

How many times has the person you have offed from a go go for more than a couple of days, suddenly not been given what he wants??

Two minutes ago, you were Neil, Kevin, David, John whatever.

Now, you didn't agree to buy the mobile phone, you've grown two heads, you become, that "FARANG" Now tell me it is not derogatory!

Second example.

Your passport is not quite in order at the Airport or there is a slight query with your luggage, All of a sudden the discussion between the officer and his staff, becomes all about the Farang whilst eye gesturing and nodding to each other in your direction.

What if our Immigration officers in the UK etc started asking "Anyone seen the luggage of the yellow fellow with slanted eyes" He'd be fired in a breath!


I think Fair's fair, but its " Just the way I see it!! "

It seems a little perverse to write on a trail about human slavery, misery and death to say how miffed you are when someone uses an address you don't care for.

It seems a little perverse to write on a trail about human slavery, misery and death to say how miffed you are when someone uses an address you don't care for.

If you're saying "off topic " Wowpow, nearly every thread on here ends up like that!

jaafarabutarab,

Hi, I'll bow to your better knowledge on History.

One point, I didn't say in my post the term Tang chart meant foreigner, if you read my post.

My interpretation was, not of these shores, Different Nationalties encompassing all. I think that is what I said???

That is certainly what I meant.

The onus is also, by the way of course,the way you express it and the circumstances surrounding its use, as I desribed before in a previous post.

The point you make on the children is absolutely terrible, I hope for their sake, someone of influence hears about it and intervenes.

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

"when someone uses an address you don't care for." Wowpow !

did you mean a: "dress you don't care for."
a street "address you don't care for."
or was adressed in a manner "you don't care for."

pendantic I know but I want to know if someone's having a go at my frock, me or my residence..or all 3 !!

[Aunty]

Communism has been a huge success in China, Russia and Vietnam..considering the alternative if it hadn't happened...and socialism will be the saving of South America.

However it was the great philosopher Bertrand Russel who 70 years ago predicted that the East would become like the West and visa versa..and that's what's happening with Russia and China-embracing capitalism while the US and GB embrace fascism.

Well I'm sorry Lunchtime Lush, but on that score you are dead wrong. Communism (Mao) was an utter disaster for China. Having been there and seeing the poverty during its dying communist days, dead bodies floating down the Yangtze river, a suicide too on our boat...........................

Although it's interesting. I breakfast most days at a little cafe that is run by a Chinese immigrant family from Shanghai. The owner and I often have quite long discussions about well everything really, usually philosophical in nature. He often talks about life in China during communism when he was a young man, the simplicity of it all, people being more or less equal, everything the same. Life was simple, people were happy, even though they were not rich. He looks back on those days with quite a degree of nostalgia missing his life more simple, and for him at least, a simple happiness. Now there's the bills to pay, the cafe to run, long hours, seven days a week sometimes. A son to put through college. Life is more complicated, more demanding, harder, and he's not getting any younger. Happiness is very important to him, but his hard earnt wealth has not brought him happiness, and I think he is genuinely puzzled about that.

But I don't see this as an issue of puzzlement, or economics. It's an issue of awareness. Living back in communist China was like living as a child lives. There was no awareness, the State provided everything, just like Mum and Dad provides the world for their child to live in. And it's difficult to long for something you don't know even exists. So in this simple world, ignorance is truly bliss. But we are not children, and living life as a child is no way to live. It's NOT living. And I have often asked my friend, if all Chinese thought the same as you, how come China changed? If everybody was so happy living in the workers paradise of life as a child, there would be no need or desire to change. But clearly that is not the case. I guess for every happy Chinese like my friend, there was another who was unhappy, who wanted to leave home, grow up and become all they could be, or at least have a go at it. They want opportunities and choices, and the rewards that go with taking a chance and success. They want to grow and create and to be somebody. They want to live.

You see my friend wants to impose a system of government on all people because it makes him feel comforted to live that way. It's easy, its safe and its predictable. But many do not want to live like that, because it simply fails to satisfy them. So why should my friend get ti impose his will on others because it makes him feel better about himself? If that were to happen, they well be no great art, literature, science, engineering. There won't be any great plays to go and see or any great books to read, because children don't need that kind of stuff.

To me it all comes down to what is the best system to live under that allows as many people as possible the freedom to really live as they wish. Communism by its very nature produces a suffocating mediocrity and little chance to escape from it. At least under our system my friend can choose how to live, and if he really wants to return to a more simple life for happiness, then he can choose that too. But choice by definiation implies awareness.

I've never observed Thai people using "man" (or "mun") for foreigners any more than they do so for other Thais (which they do quite frequently).

I've never observed Thai people using "man" (or "mun") for foreigners any more than they do so for other Thais (which they do quite frequently).


Boygeenyus,

I am no expert, however, in my experiences "Man" is an impolite expresion of "Khow" He/she and is a derogatory term usually, made by someone who dislikes the third person to whom they are referring.

"Mun" even "Munga" rising at the end means You, and again as far as I know, dates back, and is old thai, to the times of Rama V, again in strong language and is purposefully derogatory, usually to put someone in their place!

Yes, Kevin. I know exactly what the word means and how it is used. Thais use it all the time with 1) people they are very, very friendly with (for example, groups of teenage boys will refer to one of their group in the third person using it); 2) people they dislike; 3) people they have no emotional connection to and feel no need to speak politely about. Plus, of course, animals and inanimate objects and concepts.

I have never noticed it being used more to refer to foreigners than it is to anyone else.

Me neither,

They would, in fact, use it more towards one of their own than us as Foreigners.

We don't hold their attention span long enough!

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

who cannot accept that Communism actually happened for many years-can give an alternative view of how Russia and China would have survived the 20th century.

I didn't say it was nice or pretty-but then neither is capitalism (although I enjoyed it in the USA when they had it )...or is fascism.

Besides-none of this matters..the US is heading for an almighty crash ( it's already begun in property) with it's artificially inflated dollar and rampant military spending and China will implode.