September 8th, 2008, 11:59
Dealers are recruiting elderly people and children from Northeast villages to become Bangkok beggars for a hefty income worth Bt7,000 to Bt15,000 per family per month, the Mirror Foundation revealed yesterday. Ekkalak Lumchomkae, head of the foundation's Operation Centre against Human Trafficking, said a field study by his office found that some dealers were collecting transport and accommodation fees from villagers. They also arranged a rented house in Bang Sue district for these people - who also included a village headman's family and relatives of tambon administrative organisation members - so that they could beg for money, especially from shoppers at Chatuchak Weekend Market. During school terms, youngsters would travel to Bangkok to beg on Friday evening and return home on Sunday, while they would stay in Bangkok throughout school holidays.And the truly "Amazing Thailand" point to all of this? The government has drafted legislation to register beggars. I'll say it before someone else does - this beggars belief
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09 ... 082823.php (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09/08/national/national_30082823.php)
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09 ... 082823.php (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/09/08/national/national_30082823.php)