Phuket
Phuket Police tracing human trafficking network back to Cambodia
PHUKET: The Army has ordered Phuket police to trace the human trafficking network that led a group of Cambodians into debt-trapped servitude in a Phuket Town clothing store (story here).
The owner of the shop, Pasita Sangsakul, from Bangkok, defended her purchase of the staffers when she was questioned by Phuket City Police at Phuket Provincial Hall.
“I purchased the five workers from an agency. I had to pay 8,000 baht per person,” Ms Pasita said. “I never forced, threatened or did anything to them. They have all their freedoms.”
“If they pay me the money that I paid to the agency, they can leave the shop at anytime.”
Ms Pasita told police that she paid the workers 90 baht for each shirt or pair of pants they produced, and 1,000 baht per person per month as a food allowance. However, the workers claimed that they were paid only 90 baht a day.
One of the Cambodian women smuggled into the Kingdom made repeated pleas to her brother and sister-in-law for help.
The case came to light after the sister-in-law, who lives in Bangkok, filed a complaint at the Damrongtham Center after receiving the calls.
The sister-in-law, named by police only as Ms Petch, came to Phuket with a Thai friend and identified her relative to army officers, explained Commanding General of the 41st Military Circle Peerapol Wiriyakul.
“She called my husband for help, as she was paid 90 baht per day,” said Ms Petch.
The woman told her relatives she wanted to go home but did not have 10,000 baht – 2,000 baht more than the shop owner claimed was required – to buy her freedom.
The woman and her husband, who was also working at the shop, had allegedly paid 2,500 baht each to the human smugglers to be brought to Phuket. They arrived about two months ago, Ms Petch said.
In accordance with the announcement made by the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) allowing illegal workers until July 15 to be registered at the Employment Office, the five suspects were not charged for illegally entering the country and working here, said Maj Gen Peerapol.
“If they want to go home, we will help facilitate that,” Gen Peerapol said.
“The investigation into those responsible for smuggling the workers into Thailand will be handed over to the Phuket Provincial Police.”
Ms Pasita is not being charged for hiring illegal workers, also in accordance with the NCPO announcement, said Gen Peerapol.
“At this stage, we have yet to consider charging Ms Pasita for her involvement in human trafficking. However, I have ordered our team to investigate the human smuggling network that brought the Cambodians here,” Phuket Provincial Commander Krajang Suwannarat told the Phuket Gazette today.
Earlier this week, Thailand found itself in the international spotlight after the US State Department on June 20 downgraded it to the lowest level in its annual Trafficking in Persons report, putting it on the same level as North Korea, Iran and Syria.
“Anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts remained insufficient compared with the size of the problem in Thailand, and corruption at all levels hampered the success of these efforts,” the report said.
However, only days after the US cut military aid to Thailand, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney praised the ruling junta for its new regulation on migrant labor, describing it as “a good policy” to tackle human trafficking.
Ms Kenney said the US would support Thailand’s efforts to resolve the problems of human trafficking, child labor and illegal foreign workers, the Thai News Agency reported (story here).
— Kritsada Mueanhawong
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To help wrangle the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak in Phuket, strict controls for everyone entering the island go into effect today until the end of April. The provincial communicable disease committee approved the measures in an effort to stop the proliferation of Covid-19 in the province. The new regulations state that only people who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine or have tested to be Coronavirus-free within 3 days of arrival, will be allowed to enter Phuket. Proper certification or documentation must be presented to verify this information – either a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or the results of a recent negative Covid-19 test.
Anyone attempting to enter Phuket without two jabs of the vaccine or a negative Covid-19 test within the last 72 hours will be charged 300 baht for a rapid antigen test at their port of entry. These tests generate results in about 15 minutes and then negative-tested visitors will be allowed to proceed. If a person receives the test and is diagnosed positive for Covid-19 they will be sent to medical facilities immediately for treatment.
All entrants to Phuket are also required to use the Mor Chana Covid-19 contact tracing app to check in and record their travel timelines. That mobile app is available at gophuget.com.
The new restrictions apply to local and foreign travellers except for people making deliveries that are not staying overnight. Those people will get a special certification from their companies to present at the checkpoint entrance to the island.
Phuket is now classified as a Red Zone province, one of 19 provinces throughout Thailand where infections are on the rise. 208 current Covid-19 infections were registered at the start of this week in Phuket.
In response to the increasing Covid-19 infections in Phuket, Surat Thani has made special restrictions for anyone travelling from Phuket to Surat Thani. Those people will be required to scan and register their trip through the “Save Surat” website before being quarantined for 14 days.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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Starting tomorrow, those who fly into Phuket International Airport will face a Covid-19 “Antigen Rapid Test” unless they have proof of being fully vaccinated or a previously negative Covid test within 72 hours of arriving. The Phuket Communicable Disease Committee announced the new rule last night, and will go through April 30. The measure also includes those coming from red zones. The test is 300 baht with travellers being required to foot the bill. Results are expected to take 15 minutes.
For those entering the province by road, only those from red zone provinces will be required to be tested. All arrivals must install the MorChana app, register their travel details through the www.gophuget.com web portal, and have their arrival and travel details reported to the Emergency Operations Center for the area where the traveller is staying. Those who are only transporting goods and don’t stay in Phuket overnight are exempt from the new rules. But, they must show a permission document.
The government is asking people to limit their travel, particularly to red zone provinces. Here’s a list of the red zone provinces.
1. Bangkok
2. Chiang Mai
3. Chon Buri
4. Samut Prakan
5. Prachuap Khiri Kan
6. Samut Sakhon
7. Pathum Thani
8. Nakhon Pathom
9. Phuket
10. Nakhon Ratchasima
11. Nonthaburi
12. Songkhla
13. Tak
14. Udon Thani
15. Suphanburi
16. Sa Kaeo
17. Rayong
18. Khon Kaen
You can expect other provinces to introduce similar restrictions over the next few days. We’ll keep you up to date on thethaiger.com
Meanwhile, Phuket is receiving almost 100,000 Covid-19 Sinovac doses to administer second vaccine rounds to those who received their first jabs earlier this month. Thailand today, has recorded 1,443 new daily Covid-19 infections. 4 more deaths have also been recorded. 55 people are now on ventilators under state care. The government claims there are 1,000 ventilators available. 666,210 people in Thailand have now received at least 1 dose of a Covid vaccine. Only 2 of today’s reported cases were imported.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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Phuket is receiving almost 100,000 Covid-19 Sinovac doses to administer second vaccine rounds to those who received their first jabs earlier this month. 99,480 doses were delivered yesterday at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town. 30,000 doses will be delivered to Thalang Hospital, 20,000 to Patong Hospital and 10,000 to Chalong Hospital. Vachira hospital’s director posted last night detailing the vaccines’ distribution, noting that Vachira will keep the rest in store.
The vaccine doses will help continue the mass-vaccination campaign which will continue until April 30. About 90,000 people and 9,000 medical and public health personnel are scheduled to receive their 2nd vaccine doses. 480 military, police, and frontline personnel are also on the list.
The Phuket Provincial Health Office has made a goal of inoculating 8,000-9,000 people per day, but many have criticised that number as being unachievable. Chalermpong says SMS services will be used to notify those of vaccine appointments.
The Phuket News reports that people who have already had their first injection but who have not received an SMS confirming the second vaccination appointment can check at the “Phuket Must Win” website. Chalermpong says if you cannot find your name, then you can visit the vaccination station and present your certificate to staff after 3pm each day.
Other provincial authorities joined in giving their advice with the PPHO chief reminding that even if you are vaccinated, you could still be infected, but the symptoms won’t be very bad. The Vice Governor also chimed in saying if you want the first injection, they are open for registration today. But if you want to be vaccinated in May you must have an appointment as authorities are trying to reduce congestion.
Meanwhile, Phuket’s plans to reopen by July to vaccinated tourists may be stalled due to the 3rd wave of Covid and a slower rollout of vaccine administration than previously planned. New restrictions from entering the province have also been announced. Currently, you’ll need either a certificate of proof that you’ve had both doses of an approved Covid-19 vaccine, a Covid-19-free certificate, not older than 72 hours, or you’ll have to do a Rapid Covid Test at a cost of 300 baht at the airport.
This situation will apply until at least the end of April. The downside of coming to Phuket at this time will be risking a positive Rapid Covid Test, if you don’t have the other paperwork, and ending up in a field hospital.
If you’re arriving in Phuket by road, through the Thachatchai road checkpoint at the top of the island, only travellers from the red zone provinces will be affected by the new restrictions. If you’re from an orange zone you’ll be able to enter without the paperwork, for now anyway.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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