Rights groups urge more protection for witnesses in Mae Hong Song prostitution probe
Advocates of children’s and women’s rights have urged police to be more careful not to reveal witnesses and respect their personal rights when handling human trafficking cases such as the forced prostitution ring scandal in Mae Hong Son.
Angkhana Inthasa, head of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation's gender equality promotion, and 20 other right advocates submitted a complaint on Friday to deputy police spokesman Pol Maj General Songpol Wattanachai at the Justice Ministry's Rights and Liberties Protection Department to pass onto deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibrahman-akul.
The complaint came after Provincial Police Region 5 officers showed names and faces of the Mae Hong Son investigation witnesses and interviewed them in front of media members on May 11.
The complaint said witnesses in human trafficking cases were important for the prosecution of wrongdoers and must be protected, so police should be careful in showing the witnesses' faces.
Songpol said they should not worry as the Royal Thai Police (RTP) would proceed the investigation carefully.
Angkhana said the group also wanted the RTP to let the Mae Hong Son case be taken over by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to ensure justice to all sides and prevent criticism, because those involved in the scandal included policemen.