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
and don't forget the West who
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.
Re: and don't forget the West who
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lunchtime O'Booze
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!
still living in the trees ?
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.
so now we finally know what you are !
"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:
Re: so now we finally know what you are !
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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:
*sigh*
Re: still living in the trees ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lunchtime O'Booze
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!
Re: so now we finally know what you are !
Quote:
Originally Posted by 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:
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!! "
I didn't quite get that !!
"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 !!
