WASHINGTON (AP) — Two days after he said buying Greenland wasn’t a top priority, President Donald Trump canceled an upcoming trip to Denmark, which owns the mostly frozen island, after its prime minister dismissed the idea.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had called Trump’s musing about buying the Danish territory “an absurd discussion” after the former real estate mogul-turned-president began to talk up the idea.
Trump said Sunday that he was interested in such a deal for strategic purposes, but said a purchase was not a priority at this time. “It’s not No. 1 on the burner,” he told reporters.
Trump even joked about his proposal as it came in for ridicule, tweeting a doctored photo of a glistening Trump skyscraper looming over a small village in the Arctic territory.
“I promise not to do this to Greenland,” he joked Monday.
But on Tuesday, Trump abruptly canceled the visit, also by tweet.
Just a few hours earlier, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark tweeted that it was “ready for the POTUS @realDonaldTrump visit!” using an acronym for “President of the United States” along with Trump’s Twitter handle.
Trump wrote: “Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time.”
He added: “The Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct. I thank her for that and look forward to rescheduling sometime in the future!”
White House spokesman Judd Deere said later that the visit to Denmark has been canceled.
The White House announced in late July that Trump had accepted an invitation to visit Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and participate in a series of meetings, including with Frederiksen and business leaders.
The trip, set to begin at the end of August, includes a stop in Poland to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the start of World War II.
Trump is expected to go ahead with the Warsaw visit.
Asked about Greenland on Sunday as he prepared to return to Washington after a vacation week at his central New Jersey home, Trump said “strategically … it would be nice” to own the island.
He also suggested he might not visit Denmark at all, saying he didn’t think the previously announced trip had been “absolutely set in stone yet.”
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Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.
BEIJING (Xinhua) — A total of 15 foreign writers, translators and publishers won China’s top publication prize for introducing China and Chinese culture to the world at a ceremony held on Tuesday.
Twelve people won the Special Book Award of China and the other three received the Special Book Award for Young Scholars. For the first time, the winners included individuals from Israel, Kazakhstan, Greece and Iraq.
Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, met the winners and presented the awards to them.
Among the winners of the Special Book Award of China was a translator from Iraq who rendered “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” a 14th-century historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, and “Strange Tales From A Chinese Studio,” a collection of classical Chinese stories by 17th-century writer Pu Songling.
Inaugurated in 2005, the awards are China’s top publication prize that honors foreigners for making great contributions to the introduction and promotion of China, Chinese culture and Chinese publications to the world.
Since then, the awards have seen a total of 138 winners from 53 countries.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday his aggressive China trade policies may mean economic pain for Americans but insisted they’re needed for more important long-term benefits.
He contended he does not fear a recession but is nonetheless considering new tax cuts to promote growth. Asked if his trade war with China could tip the country into recession, Trump brushed off the idea as “irrelevant” and said it was imperative to “take China on.”
“It’s about time, whether it’s good for our country or bad for our country short term,” he said.
Paraphrasing a reporter’s question, Trump said, “Your statement about, ‘Oh, will we fall into a recession for two months?’ OK? The fact is somebody had to take China on.”
Trump was clear that he didn’t think the nation is at risk of a recession and that a boom was possible if the Federal Reserve would slash its benchmark interest rate.
“We’re very far from a recession,” Trump said. “In fact, if the Fed would do its job, I think we’d have a tremendous spurt of growth, a tremendous spurt.”
President Donald Trump says his administration is a looking at a variety of tax-cut proposals, including payroll taxes, but not as a response to a potential recession, saying “I’m looking at that all the time anyway.”
Yet he also said he is considering a temporary payroll tax cut and indexing to inflation the federal taxes on profits made on investments — moves designed to stimulate faster growth. He downplayed any idea that these thoughts indicate a weakening economy , saying, “I’m looking at that all the time anyway.”
Asked about his remarks, White House spokesman Judd Deere said, “The president does not believe we are headed for a recession. The economy is strong because of his policies.”
Trump faces something of an inflection point on a U.S. economy that appears to be showing vulnerabilities after more than 10 years of growth. Factory output has fallen and consumer confidence has waned as he has ramped up his trade war with China. In private, Trump and his advisers have shown concern that a broader slowdown, if not an outright recession, could arrive just as he is seeking reelection based on his economic record.
Trump rattled the stock and bond markets this month when he announced plans to put a 10% tax on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports. The market reaction suggested a recession might be on the horizon and led Trump to delay some of the tariffs that were slated to begin in September, though 25% tariffs are already in place for $250 million in other Chinese goods.
The president has long maintained that the burden of the tariffs is falling solely on China, yet that message was undermined by his statements to reporters Tuesday prior to a meeting in the Oval Office with the president of Romania.
“My life would be a lot easier if I didn’t take China on. But I like doing it because I have to do it,” Trump said.
The world economy has been slowing in recent months, and recent stock market swings have added to concerns that the U.S. economy is not immune. A new survey Monday showed a big majority of economists expecting a downturn to hit by 2021.
Addressing that possibility, Trump focused anew on pressuring the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. Presidents have generally avoided criticizing the Federal Reserve publicly, but Trump has shown no inclination to follow that lead. Rather, he’s positioning Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to take the fall if the economy swoons.
“I think that we actually are set for a tremendous surge of growth, if the Fed would do its job,” Trump said. “That’s a big if.”
Trump recommended a minimum cut of a full percentage point in the coming months.
Mike Pence pauses while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 in National Harbor, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
HONG KONG (Xinhua) — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s remarks on Monday, the latest by Western politicians on Hong Kong, has drawn strong opposition from the Chinese side.
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and objection.
It said some U.S. politicians have clung to the Cold War mentality, hegemonic thinking and the zero-sum bias, confounded right with wrong, and grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs by making irresponsible comments. “We strongly deplore and firmly oppose it,” the office said.
Starting June 9, demonstrators protested the proposed amendments by the HKSAR government to two ordinances concerning fugitive offenders. Even though the amendments have been completely halted, the opposition made more demands and raised the level of violence.
In the following weeks, tensions escalated as radical protesters used guerrilla tactics to stage strikes, block public transport, damage public facilities, besiege police stations and attack police officers, pushing the city to the brink of chaos.
Violent radicals attempt to break and enter the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong, south China, July 1, 2019. (Xinhua)
Over the last two months, some Western governments and figures have issued statements regarding Hong Kong and taken actions related to the protests and violence.
Some politicians hosted Hong Kong opposition leaders and rendered them support on different occasions. Some frequently spoke up to manipulate and radicalize public opinions in Hong Kong. Some advocated violence and clashes in the name of democracy and freedom with a true aim to create disorder and chaos.
On March 21, the U.S. State Department published the 2019 Hong Kong Policy Act Report, in which it made a series of false accusations regarding Hong Kong, saying its autonomy is diminished. The HKSAR government rejected the report as distorting facts and causing confusion.
Days later, U.S. politicians, led by Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, held meetings with Hong Kong opposition and backed demonstrations. Hong Kong’s former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang was among the group who traveled to the United States.
On July 8, both Pence and Pompeo met with Hong Kong opposition businessman Jimmy Lai to discuss developments related to the amendments and the status of Hong Kong. The visit was seen as “very unusual for a [non-government] visitor to get that kind of access”, according to media reports.
Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, repeatedly voiced her support of violence in Hong Kong. In June, she called the demonstrations in Hong Kong “a beautiful sight to behold”, when radical protesters were assaulting police officers with bricks, home-made spears, and petrol bombs.
In August, Pelosi made statements to support the protesters, in which she called rioters “courageous” and claimed that Hong Kong police use “aggression and abuse”.
Violent radicals go after a police vehicle in North Point, south China’s Hong Hong, Aug. 5, 2019. (Xinhua)
Frontline Hong Kong police officers said they have been under immense pressure.
Chief Superintendent David Jordan, who is British, said the situation on the front line was the most dangerous that he has faced in over 25 years, due to the level of aggression.
“We have been incredibly restrained, and also we are only reactive. I strongly feel that the role and the actions of the Hong Kong police have been as tolerant as any other police force on the planet would have been,” he said.
On Aug. 13, Pelosi called for the passing of a so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act to further meddle in Hong Kong affairs.
As she posted the statement, radical protesters plunged the Hong Kong International Airport into chaos on Aug. 13 and 14. Protesters harassed passengers and inflicted severe physical harm to two mainland residents. These extreme behaviors have been widely condemned by the public.
As another piece of evidence of meddling, Julie Eadeh, a diplomat in the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong, met with “Hong Kong independence” activists including Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Nathan Law Kwun-chung on Aug. 8.
After their meeting, these activists said they discussed using a U.S. bill to sanction Hong Kong and urging the United States to stop selling equipment to the Hong Kong police.
During the protests, radical protesters waved British and U.S. flags when they vandalized road infrastructure and attacked police on duty.
Violent radicals set fires after blocking a road in Causeway Bay, south China’s Hong Kong, Aug. 4, 2019. (Xinhua)
On Aug. 13, the European External Action Service issued a statement on the situation in Hong Kong. On Aug. 17, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a joint statement on Hong Kong.
Both statements, misleading and incorrect, have been refuted by the Chinese side.
These meetings and words are “irresponsible remarks” and “wrong signals” to fan protests and pressure the government, observers in Hong Kong said.
“Whenever the Hong Kong opposition seemed weak, officials and advocates in the United States jumped out to comment and called on them to continue,” said Chan Yung, an HKSAR deputy to the National People’s Congress and vice-chairperson of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.
“The intervention of external forces has only complicated matters and made the situation precarious. The United States wants to use Hong Kong issues as a bargaining chip with China. That plan is not going to work,” he said.
Observers said what has happened in Hong Kong bears the feature of a color revolution that is aimed at overthrowing the government.
Violent radicals block a passage at Hong Kong International Airport in south China’s Hong Kong, Aug. 13, 2019. (Xinhua)
“It is an organized and coordinated version of a color revolution that is aimed to snatch the governance authority of Hong Kong through resorting to violence,” said Yiu Chi-Shing, chairman of Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.
“Look at the regions hurt by color revolutions, they left nothing but chaos. We should prevent Hong Kong from falling into the trap,” he said.
Begging for foreign influence and intervention is a dangerous move that challenges the red line of the “one country, two systems” principle, observers and authorities said.
“I advise those politicians who speak beautiful words but spread seeds of social hatred and discord to be responsible and clear-headed. Their tricks will never succeed,” said Yang Guang, spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council.
Screenshot from a video showing Sira Jenjaka, second from the left, arguing with Police Lt. Col. Prateung Ponmana, right, at a condominium sales office in Phuket on Aug. 18.
PHUKET— Top government officials on Tuesday distanced themselves from a coalition politician who stirred public outcry by disparaging a policeman for not providing him a security escort.
Though Phalang Pracharath MP Sira Jenjaka insisted he was not flaunting his authority over the policeman as alleged by his critics, party leaders declined to defend his actions. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha went as far as instructing party officials to give Sira a warning.
“I’ve already given the instruction.” Gen. Prayuth said. “The party spokesman has already apologized. There must have been some misunderstanding.”
The confrontation took place when Sira and three other MPs visited Phuket province to inspect a condominium that was allegedly built on a protected land. At the condominium, called the Peaks Residence, he vented his anger at a local police officer for failing to provide him police escorts.
“Other precincts always send some officers to accommodate visiting MPs on duty. I’m not bragging, but I think you should do the same, officer,” Sira is filmed saying to Police Lt. Col. Prateung Ponmana, deputy chief of Karon Police Station.
Sira said he was outraged to see Prateung sitting and sipping coffee instead of standing at attention and waiting for him when he arrived.
Before the officer had a chance to respond, Sira said Prateung had another chance to prove his competence.
Pratueng then interrupted him, “Sir, calm down. Are you suggesting that I’m wrong?”
The police officer said that he had already prepared for the MPs’ arrival and swept the area for any threats. Police contingents were also at standby at the police station in case of any call from Sira.
The conversation reached the boiling point when Sira turned his face away and said “But you manage to spare some time for coffee? It’s a clear offense,” to which Prateung said, “That’s right!”
“I am pooyai!” Sira replied loudly, using a term that means influential persons. “How dare you raise your voice at me?”
“Hey kiddo, I’m here to serve the citizens. Don’t you feel greng jai for acting like this in front of four MPs?” Sira said.
At the end of the video, the Bangkok MP ordered Prateung to apologize.
After the video was posted on the internet, it quickly went viral and drew criticism from many netizens and government critics, who accused Sira of bullying the police for unnecessary show of force. Phalang Pracharath said it’s not responsible for Sira’s behavior.
Party elder Thammanat Prompao said today that the party has no involvement with Sira’s visit to Phuket, which described as “a personal visit.”
He also asked the fellow MPs not to interfere with issues outside of their electoral district.
Nattee Thinsaku, a Phalang Pracharat Phuket MP, said on Tuesday he was shocked by what happened – because he was not even informed of Sira’s visit to his electoral district in the first place.
“I understand that [Sira] has good intentions for Phuket people, but it has to be based on the facts,” Nattee said. “The Court of First Instance has already tried the land ownership case, which is currently on appeal.
“The case is being investigated locally and there is no need for the MP to barge into this matter,” he said.
Transparency activist Srisuwan Janya said he would submit a complaint against Sira to the anti-graft office for exploiting government services for personal gains.
The construction project, which Sira said that the land ownership and construction permits have not been lawfully given, has been halted by the local municipality as the case is being investigated.
He also said he has received a death threat for speaking out about the controversy, which he said “two people have already died.”
Video of the quarrel on Aug. 18, starting at 2:40.
Sira pointing at the controversial condominium project in Phuket on Aug. 18.Sira pointing at a construction suspension notice inside the sales office of the condominium on Aug. 18.Locals giving a flower bouquet as a gesture of support to Prateung on Aug. 19.
Update: Khaosod English’s partnership with Xinhua News Agency expired on Dec. 31, 2020, and was not renewed.
Our recent news-sharing agreement with China’s Xinhua News Agency has attracted some questions from readers. We’d like to use this opportunity to clarify the issue.
Is it a paid partnership?
No. Neither Khaosod nor Xinhua receive payment from each other. Khaosod is not being paid by anyone to republish news content from Xinhua.
Do you know Xinhua is stated-owned?
Of course, and so does every reader.
Then why did you sign an agreement with them?
We want to deliver multiple angles about China to our Thai and foreign readers.
While it is true that Xinhua is state-owned, it often publishes news items related to China that are not available on Western media. This helps diversify our news coverage of China – a country that’s playing an increasingly big role in our region – at no cost.
Though readers are right to be critical of sponsored content and financial incentives, Khaosod stands to make no financial gains from the agreement. We re-publish news-pieces from Xinhua simply in the hopes that the people of the two countries can better understand each other.
Khaosod English is now publishing two wire services – the Associated Press (paid), and Xinhua (free) – simultaneously. For the sake of clarity, we indicate which wire service each news piece came from next to the dateline.
Isn’t re-publishing news from state-owned media brainwashing?
Whether or not readers agree with the so-called propaganda by the Chinese authorities, they can still have a glimpse into the Chinese state’s perspectives on current affairs.
We believe people should be exposed to different angles on the same issue, especially if it is a deeply complex one.
We trust in the ability of our readers to decide for themselves what to believe, and what not to believe. Better judgement is achieved through exposure to different points of view and the resulting synthesis, rather than reading news from only one source.
Is Xinhua in control of Khaosod English now?
We’d like to add that this partnership was being negotiated and hammered out many months ago, long before the current protests in Hong Kong flared up.
Since signing the agreement, Xinhua has never made any attempt to interfere with Khaosod’s internal operations. We continue to maintain complete independence over our editorial decisions. Our staff decide on our own which Xinhua-produced content to republish.
The notion that we are part of any coordinated information campaign by China is utterly false.
Why don’t you put up a disclaimer that “Khaosod English is not responsible for this content?”
We trust our readers to understand that Khaosod English staff members could not possibly agree with every guest piece, wire service, and external piece published on the site.
We publish a diverse range of content, and always clearly identify the authors of individual pieces. Any complaints can be filed directly to them.
Even when Khaosod English published a particularly controversial view on race from a guest contributor, readers seemed to understand that the opinions expressed belonged to the author alone. We hope our readers will grant us the same understanding.
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Throughout our six years of operations, Khaosod English has been the subject of countless intimidation efforts – from internet mobs to unspeakable institutions. We have always stood our ground and intend to continue doing the same.
Marine animal rescuers have one adage: don’t get attached.
Whether it’s a beached whale or baby turtle, rescue crews know that naming animals or developing an emotional bond will lead to tears.
“We try to keep our distance because there’s a fifty-fifty chance they will die, and we don’t want to be hurt by that,” Komchai “Paeng” Thanapanich, a volunteer at Thai Whales, said.
But falling in love was inevitable when it came to Marium, an orphaned baby dugong rescued May 19 and cared for by volunteers, vets, and marine officials until her death Saturday.
“After feeding her and giving her medicine, we would try to leave the water. But she would swim to us and nip at our legs. She was so pouty and needed love,” Paeng said by phone.
Thai Whales is a volunteer organization that rescues beached marine animals and helps the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources care for them. Paeng was there for around half of Marium’s hundred-odd days under human care, helping the vets feed her milk and sea grass.
“She remembered every person,” Paeng said. “She would swim to us when we called her name, and show us her belly so we could pet her. She was cheerful and smart.”
Paeng said the doctors who were with her daily, as well as volunteers like her, are “still crying.”
Marium was the first dugong under the care of Thai authorities to live in a natural environment rather than a pool. In her final weeks, she suffered in a depressive state apparently caused by an attack by a larger dugong. However, her autopsy determined the immediate cause of death to be plastic blocking her digestive system. Despite officials’ efforts, Marium died nine minutes after midnight Saturday.
“When she got sick, I tried to make peace with it,” Paeng said. “But when we cut her open and found plastic, I immediately thought, ‘Is this because of me? Is any of this plastic mine?’”
Photo: Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Courtesy
Also saddened – and angry – is conservation photographer Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai, who first brought Marium fame with photos of her cuddling her caretakers.
“We shouldn’t go quiet after her death. We can’t keep consuming without thinking of its effects. We have to think of our impact on the world,” Shin said. “Something so beautiful is gone.”
But both Shin and Paeng say monitoring our individual consumption and waste management habits is not enough – government policies and industry regulations are necessary.
“We need big changes from the higher-ups,” Paeng said. “Marium was a victim in all of this. I think her vibes of love won’t be in vain, if everyone channels their sadness into love, and into law on a national scale.”
The Marium Project
Marine officials have declared the day of Marium’s death, Aug. 17, to be National Dugong Day and set up the Marium Fund to support further marine conservation efforts.
The initiatives are part of a broader scheme that officials call the “Marium Project” – a plan to increase dugong numbers, explained Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine biologist from Kasetsart University who is on the board of the marine department.
Only 250 dugongs are left in Thailand, 200 of which live near Trang and Krabi. Around 10 to 12 die per year, 90 percent from fishing gear. Thon says that the department has declared the lofty goal of increasing dugong numbers by 50 percent within a decade, or to have at least 375 dugongs in the country.
Officials are currently aiming to prevent fishermen from operating in areas with abundant seagrass and periodic reports of dugongs, while informing fishermen about the ecological importance of dugongs.
Thon says the project is currently active in Koh Libong, Trang, but will be expanded to 11 other dugong habitats nationwide, such as Prasae River delta in Rayong, Bandon Bay in Surat Thani, and Ko Phra Thong in Phang Nga.
Is this because of me? Is any of this plastic mine?
In 2019 alone, 16 dugongs have been found beached in Thailand. Only Jamil is still alive, who was found as a three-month-old on July 1 in Krabi. He is currently under the care of the marine department in Phuket.
“It’s a very challenging goal because we’ve never cared for so many dugongs. But we can do it with enough support,” Thon wrote.
Marine department officials came to Government House on Tuesday to discuss the Marium Project.
Wildlife has recovered in rare instances of environmental regulations winning over tourism and industry. Six months after Maya Bay in Krabi was closed to tourists in June 2018, blacktip reef sharks were spotted giving birth to pups.
Premchai Karnasuta at the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Aug. 20, 2019.
BANGKOK — A criminal court on Monday found a construction mogul guilty of carrying unlicensed firearms to poach wildlife and sentenced him to six months in prison.
The court also rejected Premchai Karnasuta’s offer to ordain as a monk and donate to charities in exchange for a suspended jail term. In its verdict, the court said Premchai has two other cases pending in connection to the hunt and therefore is not eligible for probation.
The court then handed down a six-month prison term for the illegal possession of four hunting firearms.
Premchai’s attorneys are securing bail at the time of publication.
The president of the conglomerate Italian Thai Ltd. stands accused of hunting black panthers and other animals in a national park in February 2018. He rejected the poaching charges, but confessed to owning the four firearms in today’s ruling.
In March, he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for weapons-related charges and conspiring to poach wildlife, but he was later released on a bond.
In June, the court also handed him a one-year prison term for bribery. He was granted bail.
In files to the court, Premchai offered to become a monk for 15 days at Bovornnivet Temple or any other monastery, donate 3 million baht from his own wallet to charities, and pledge not to use firearms ever again.
Though the court said Premchai is welcome to pursue those plans, it refused to suspend the defendant’s jail term.
BANGKOK — Danish pop-soul band Lukas Graham will embark on its first concert in Thailand this September.
The band will perform on September 28 at GMM Muang Thai Live House inside CentralWorld. Tickets will be sold online from August 30 via The Concert, with prices starting from 1,800 to 2,300 baht.
The Bangkok gig will be Lukas Graham’s first stop in Asia in a tour to promote their latest album “3 (The Purple Album).” Concertgoers should expect renditions of hits such as “Love Someone” and “Not a Damn Thing Changed.”
The band consists of lead vocalist Lukas Forchhammer, drummer Mark Falgren, and bassist Magnus Larsson. Their popularity grew from a series of homespun videos starting in 2011, before their biggest hit, “7 Years,” earned them international recognition and even Grammy nominations in 2015.
Security officers show smuggled migrant workers on the back of a pickup truck on May 26, 2017, in Kanchanaburi province.
BANGKOK — As much as 80 percent of irregular migrant workers were ferried into Thailand by smuggling services, sometimes with the help of corrupt Thai officials, a recent report by the United Nations said.
In a report released at a news conference last week, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said corruption and bribery are prevalent throughout the process of smuggling migrants into Thailand from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
“Some groups are reported to operate under the watch or control of corrupt officials who enable them to smuggle migrants into Thailand without interference,” part of the report said.
However, the same report noted that from 2012 to 2017, between 63,000 and 132,000 irregular migrants from Myanmar were apprehended each year while attempting to enter the Kingdom.
It also said the number of non-Thai residents increased from an estimated 3.7 million in 2014 to 4.9 million in 2018. 80 per cent or approximately 3.9 million are migrant workers from neighboring Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam looking for higher paying jobs.
Smuggling services from Myanmar to Thailand cost roughly USD$400, while smuggling services from Cambodia or Laos to Thailand cost around USD$150, according to the paper,
The report said migrants find smuggling to be a “cheaper, less bureaucratic and otherwise easier option” and many smugglers can provide employment and accommodation in Thailand.
Between 41,000 and 151,000 Cambodians are detected each year attempting irregular entry into Thailand while the numbers from Laos are between 18,000 to 43,000, the report stated.
“Laotian migrants are vulnerable to exploitation in the commercial sex trade, garment factories, domestic services, agricultural and construction industries and the fishing and seafood sectors,” the report said.
Most vulnerable are Rohingya people from Myanmar fleeing persecution by boat to Thailand, Malaysia and beyond.
In 2017, 22 Thai government officials were convicted for involvement in the smuggling and trafficking of Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the deaths of Rohingya and Bangladeshis in camps along the Thai-Malaysia border.
“Thai officials were convicted in 2017 of various charges including murder, torture, rape, money laundering and human trafficking. Some officials reportedly stopped some boats and demanded payment before allowing them to proceed,” the report said.
“To maximize their profits, knowing that law enforcement and border control agencies will seize or destroy the vessel if the clandestine journey is detected, smugglers typically crowd as many people as possible onto old and inexpensive vessels.”
It continued, “A number of smuggling boats have sunk or capsized, leading to the deaths of several hundred smuggled migrants and asylum seekers.”
