BANGKOK – The Ministry of Interior continues to suppress human trafficking in 2016, as it instructs related officials to step up efforts to eradicate the human trade, especially in high-risk provinces.
Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda revealed that this year, the ministry’s policy is to continue its efforts to prevent and eliminate human trafficking, while carrying on its campaign for fair use of public space.
Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda
Gen Anupong said the ministry plans to encourage each province to use legal means of dealing with human trafficking. He also mentioned the establishment of a special task force under the Department of Provincial Administration to directly handle these types of cases.
Gen Anupong explained that the task force would conduct investigations and random inspections in risk areas, such as hotels, factories, and entertainment venues. He added that an emphasis would be placed on provinces with industrial estates, provinces that have a large number of tourists, and coastal and border provinces.
The minister stated that the government would recruit locals as watchdogs for suspected human trafficking activities. These volunteers would inform the authorities through Damrongtham centers.
An urgent plan to determine the nationality of stateless individuals and minority ethnic groups will also be implemented, in order to prevent them from getting involved with human trafficking activity.
