TIP upgrade offers little cause for pride

The United States State Department’s decision to upgrade Thailand’s status in its latest Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report should not be interpreted as a pat on the back for the ruling military junta. Rather, Washington is offering Thailand a clear guideline for improving its record in dealing with this modern form of slavery. Having fallen to Tier 3, the lowest rank, in 2014 and 2015, Thailand moved post-coup to the Tier 2 Watch List for 2016 and 2017, and has now been removed from the Watch List, though it remains at Tier 2.
The upgrade acknowledges that Thailand has put more effort into prosecuting and convicting more traffickers and done so more speedily thanks to the use of specialised law-enforcement divisions. It also investigated more officials suspected of complicity in trafficking and convicted 12 of them in 2017, including 11 involved in the trafficking of Rohingya migrants, according to the TIP report.
Regardless, the military junta has little reason to be proud. Thailand’s shoddy recent history on this issue has seen it on and off the watch list too often amid lethargic and inefficient measures to deal with it. Too many senior military officers and other security officials have been involved with trafficking syndicates. Rohingya refugees who washed up in boats on Thai shores got the worst of it. Their risky journey from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, bound for more welcoming Muslim nations further south, ended in tragedy at the hands of Thai authorities.
Apparently, though, life at Tier 3 forced the military government to realise how serious the problem had become and, under additional pressure from Washington, it began to take action. The Tier 2 Watch List placement underscored insufficient measures and action. There was room for further improvement then – and there still is. 
To be fair – and as noted in the TIP report – the government has since done much to raise standards. Regulations were issued to increase oversight of NGO-operated shelters and provide access to government financial support. An anti-trafficking task force composed of law enforcement, social workers and NGOs was established to coordinate efforts in law enforcement and victim protection. A “victim specialist” programme was funded. And inspectors scouting for instances of forced labour got better training.
The problem, however, is chronic and complex. The report also noted that Thai officials identified fewer victims of forced labour and investigated fewer cases than in the previous reporting period. Although the number of inspections rose in high-risk industries, they resulted in disproportionately few identified victims and criminal investigations. Official complicity continued to impede efforts and there were “anecdotal reports” that officials arrested, detained and deported some potential victims for crimes committed as a direct result of being subjected to human trafficking. Victims and activists might have been deterred from complaining, the US suggested, and some officials may have been hesitant to pursue investigations for fear of being accused of criminal defamation by unscrupulous employers.
The TIP report advised the government to improve capacity in law enforcement and the number of labour inspectors and first responders. It said the goal should be consistent and proactive screening for and identification of victims among vulnerable populations – migrant workers, stateless persons, children and refugees. 
Trafficking is not confined to geographical boundaries. As long as people keep moving, there will be demand for trafficking services. Several countries in the region were downgraded this year because their measures to battle traffickers are not as efficient as ours. Regional cooperation thus becomes crucial. Thailand has its work cut out for it.