Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai reaffirmed the province’s commitment to preventing human trafficking by honoring a local hero and outlining the problem facing local administrators.
Following a video message to provincial officials by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Khomsan said that trafficking policy issued by the Cabinet May 11 – ten days after mass graves for trafficked migrants were found in the deep south – would be used as a guideline to suppress and prevent people-smuggling and exploitation in Chonburi.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai leads local residents in reaffirming their commitment to prevent human trafficking.
The province has since established the Chonburi Provincial Operation Center on Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking to coordinate policies and actions of every local organization involved in the trafficking fight, he said.
In Chonburi, human trafficking has been found in areas related to prostitution and sexual exploitation, child labor, illegal migrant workers in the construction and fishing industries, and street beggars.
Khomsan said such problems must be vigorously attacked by government organizations and law enforcement. Cooperation from Chonburi residents is required, the governor said, urging people to operate their businesses legally, to not threaten or force exploitation, or participate in trafficking.
As for the day’s event, after Khomsan laid out the province’s policies, he presented an award to Wannee Ketkaew, a social worker at the Fountain of Life Center for her work with trafficking victims.
He also handed out anti-trafficking signs to district chiefs and private organizations to display, signed a memorandum of understanding on organizational cooperation on anti-trafficking in persons, and opened an exhibit on the topic.
