Thread: Trafficking Investigator Quits Amid Questions About Thailand's Sincerity

By Chutima Sidasathian and Alan Morison

PHUKET: The resignation of a senior human trafficking investigator today is likely to provoke international questioning about whether Thailand intends to end the evil trade in people or cover it up all over again.

Major General Paween Pongsirin said the five-month police probe was wound up and his investigation unit disbanded with more arrests yet to be made and trafficking networks unbroken.

The main reason he quit today is because acceptance of his new appointment as deputy commander of Yala province in Thailand's Deep South would expose him to revenge by trafficking network members who are still free.

Scores of arrests have been made since May by Major General Paween's team - including Army and Navy Officers, police and powerful local politicians.

But Major General Paween said: ''We were only given five months. The job is not finished yet.''

He alleges there are still senior people in uniform who have not been brought to book for their roles in the trade in people that flourished for years through Thailand until May, when the mass graves of Rohingya and Bangladeshis were discovered in secret jungle camps along the Thai-Malaysia border.

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Originally Posted by misskit

He alleges there are still senior people in uniform who have not been brought to book for their roles in the trade in people

No doubt. Investigation will stop when it uncovers evidence of "protected" senior officer involvement.

Trafficking Investigator Quits Case for Fear of Reprisal

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat
Reuters

BANGKOK — The resignation of the senior policeman in charge of a sweeping human trafficking investigation raises serious questions over Thailand's commitment to end the illegal trade and protect its officers, a rights group said today.

Maj. Gen. Paween Pongsirin, whose team led arrests made since May, quit at the weekend saying an order to transfer him to Thailand's south would expose him to revenge by members of trafficking syndicates still at large.

Thailand has indicted 88 people suspected of involvement in human trafficking since launching a nationwide investigation into gangs following the discovery in May of 30 bodies in graves buried near the Thailand-Malaysian border, which prompted an international outcry.

One soldier and four police officers were among those arrested.

The clampdown triggered a regional migrant crisis when traffickers abandoned boats crammed with thousands of migrants at sea, rather than risk landing on shores.

Despite that crackdown, the United States kept Thailand for a second year at Tier 3 – the lowest tier – in its annual Trafficking in Persons report in July for failing to comply with its minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

National police chief Jakthip Chaijinda told reporters Praween could have asked for protection but chose to resign instead.

"This is a shame, Paween is someone with knowledge," he said.

Reuters could not reach Paween immediately.

On Tuesday, the 88 suspects will be moved from the south, where many of them were arrested, to Bangkok where a criminal court division set up in July specifically to handle trafficking cases will begin examining witnesses.

But the trials could prove lengthy and convictions are far from certain.

Investigations have been exacerbated by at least three cases of witness intimidation. A Reuters report in July underscored how key witnesses felt traffickers could target them, raising questions about the long-term effectiveness of the crackdown.

Trafficking Investigator Quits Case for Fear of Reprisal

Head Human Trafficking Investigator Rumored to be Fleeing Country

BANGKOK — The police officer in charge of investigating human trafficking has been allowed to quit the force out of fear for his life and is rumored to be preparing to flee the country with his family.

Maj. Gen. Paween Pongsiri sought to quit the force earlier this month rather than be transferred to the southern border provinces, the very region where he spent six months going after human traffickers. After the investigation was shelved, Paween was assigned to the region, at which point he went public with his fear of reprisal from henchmen working for those he’d arrested.

On Monday police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said he had accepted Paween’s resignation.

“I am not going to block his resignation,” Police Gen. Chakthip said. “I believe he has carefully made his decision.”

A police phone number listed for Paween did not ring Tuesday and Wednesday.

After the May 1 discovery of border slave camps, Paween headed a task force until October against trafficking rings in the south. It was one of the biggest crackdowns on trafficking in recent years; a total of 88 people were arrested, including bureaucrats, local administrators, businessmen, police officers and one high-ranking army officer.

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