Thailand, a notorious human trafficking hub, said it would indict 72 people including a senior army officer for engaging in the illegal trade of helpless migrants.
A major people-smuggling trade unraveled in May when thousands of Bangladeshi and Rohingya (deemed by Myanmar to be illegals from Bangladesh) migrants were abandoned at sea and in jungle camps by traffickers following a Thai crackdown.
The crisis forced a Southeast Asia-wide response.
The Office of the Attorney General of Thailand yesterday issued an order to indict 72 people charged on 16 counts mostly over human trafficking, OAG spokesman Wanchai Roujanavong said at a press conference in Bangkok.
“We will not let influential people rise above justice,” Wanchai said, adding more than dozen state officials at all levels will face trial.
The charges include human trafficking, involvement in international crimes, taking and bringing illegal migrants and malfeasance.
“AOG has given priority to the issue – as it is a big group of people involving international systems – it caused a lot of damage to the country as there were dead bodies found,” Wanchai said.
Wanchai was referencing the dozens of migrant graves found along the border with Malaysia.
Among the suspects is Lieutenant General Manas Kongpan, charged with being a major smuggling kingpin in the lucrative trade.
His alleged involvement in the grim trade in humans raises awkward questions for junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who has repeatedly justified his coup last year as a much-needed antidote to graft that he says had flourished under a series of elected civilian governments.
Manas was promoted while Prayut was army chief.
He remains the only military officer charged with complicity in people smuggling, something that has raised eyebrows among human rights groups and observers who say it is unlikely such an influential officer would have acted alone.
None of the suspects will be bailed, Wanchai added.
Around 4,500 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants were stranded in Southeast Asian waters in recent months.
—AFP
