Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome,
Chonburi Deputy Gov. Pongsak Preechawit and Somchai Sirorat, director of the
Chonburi Social Development and Human Stability Office and others gathered
at the Dusit Thani Hotel to step up the battle against human trafficking.
Ekachai Sukwattana
Chonburi officials plan to step up public awareness about the province’s
human trafficking problem by recruiting athletes, celebrities and police to
take part in a series of education lectures.
At a March 22 meeting at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol
Kunplome, Chonburi Deputy Gov. Pongsak Preechawit and Somchai Sirorat,
director of the Chonburi Social Development and Human Stability Office
outlined the mission of the “Thai Power Against Human Trafficking” campaign.
The goal is to create a training and educational-development network
comprised of public volunteers. Among the guest speakers already invited are
Pongchanok Kanklab, a famous Tae Kwon Do athlete, Pol. Lt. Gen. Chatchawan
Suksomchit, assistant commissioner of the Royal Thai Police; and university
lecturer Praman Ruangwattanavanit.
Pongsak said Chonburi has one of the country’s most-serious human
trafficking problems, due to the large number of jobs in tourism, factories
and fishing available here. Victims include children used as beggars, men
pressed into servitude on fishing boats and women into prostitution.
The public awareness campaign hopes to instill a stronger sense of morality
into people, as well as educate them on how to detect and prevent human
trafficking.
