International: Human Trafficking and Smuggling

US Expands Human Trafficking Blacklist:  The Obama administration is expanding the number of countries that may face U.S. sanctions for not doing enough to combat human trafficking.  In its annual Trafficking in Persons report released on Monday, the State Department identified 22 nations as failing to meet minimum international standards to curb the scourge, which claims mainly women and children as victims.  That's up from 13 in 2010.  Another 41 countries were placed on a "watch list" that could lead to sanctions unless their records improve.  Among the countries on the blacklist are perennial rogues Cuba, Iran, Myanmar and North Korea along with frequent U.S. foes Libya, Zimbabwe and Venezuela.  Others include Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Yemen.  [HSEC-3.9; Date: 27 June 2011; Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110627/ap_on_re_us/us_us_human_trafficking_1]  

• At Least 60 Migrants Kidnapped In Mexico:  Gunmen have kidnapped at least 60 undocumented migrants, including children, who were aboard a freight train in Mexico trying to get to the United States, a shelter director said.  Alejandro Solalinde, a priest who heads the Brothers Along the Road hostel, in the southwestern state of Oaxaca. … "At least 60 or 80 people, if not more, were kidnapped" from the freight train, Solalinde said, adding that women and children were among those snatched.  Some 250 migrants were aboard the train when the gunmen climbed aboard in a rural area of southeastern Mexico.  Many managed to flee, Solalinde said. … The train, which left the Oaxaca city of Ixtepec for the eastern state of Veracruz, was stopped by the gunmen after about four hours.   [HSEC-3.10; Date: 26 June 2011; 

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmsEOZ1zhmoPLuRVu9Xb8kjGvuAg?docId=CNG.7 

4d26f8877bc5108e8836ab5bbde3a42.2f1]  

• Philippines, Singapore Off US Trafficking Watchlist:  The United States on Monday removed the Philippines and Singapore from a human trafficking watch list that drew concerns from the close allies, but it reported persistent abuses around Asia.  The State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report has become increasingly sensitive for Southeast Asian governments, which face a cutoff of US assistance if they are found to be unresponsive in fighting trafficking.  The latest report elevated the Philippines, Singapore and Laos off the watch list to so-called Tier 2, which means that the countries do not fully meet standards on human trafficking but are making efforts to do so. … In Monday's report, the State Department praised an "intensified effort" by the Philippines.  It said the Philippines convicted 25 trafficking offenders, compared with nine the previous year, including first-ever convictions for forced labor.  [HSEC-3.9; Date: 27 June 2011; 

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h9BmTuatfiNj1O_OK7eTBeJBqEQQ?docId=CNG.1a 

b5d657468a2ee5f1590c010c34102a.5a1]  

• My First 12 Days As A Sex Slave [Burma, Thailand]:  San Yu, 19, an ethnic Mon from Mudon Township, was sold as a sex worker to a brothel in the town of Three Pagodas Pass near the Thai border.  Speaking to The Irrawaddy in secret, she said that her elder brother, who was working in Thailand, called her by phone, and told her to come and work with him in Thailand. … "My brother told me that he would pick me up when I arrived at the border of Three Pagodas Pass," … An ethnic Mon agent for human smugglers discovered San Yu looking lost at the border.  He convinced her he could help, and she went with him.  He sold her to a brothel on the Thai side of the border…for 6,000 baht [US $200]. … San Yu was ordered to have sex with the client.  The brothel owner threatened to kill her if she refused. … According to local sources, young virgins are much sought after by patrons of brothels at the Thai-Burmese border.  The price for sex with a virgin can be around 12,000 baht [$400].  "The next morning I was given 100 baht [$3]," she said.  "The brothel owner told me the rest was to go toward paying off my debt."  [HSEC-3.10; Date: 27 June 2011; 

Source: http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=21578]  

• Human Smugglers Continue Unabated [Sri Lanka]:  A group of some 300 immigrants are set to leave Malaysia on board a vessel purchased by persons known to have links to the banned LTTE terror group.  The would-be immigrants are hoping to reach the shores of either Australia or Canada. … The centre of the human smuggling ring are known human smugglers:  Bala Chandran a Sri Lankan from Vavuniya, … subagent Sundharam from Jaffna and a former Jaffna Tamil Sateesh who now travels on a UK passport. … The trio have also come to the notice of authorities in rather an unlikely location for human smugglers: Mali in Africa.  Many of the group of 300 persons are from India and Sri Lanka and not all are of Tamil origin either.  A number of those awaiting travel on this dangerous and high-risk journey are Sinhalese and Muslims.  Each person has on average paid approximately USD 20,000 – Rs 2 Million to one of the three agents.  

[HSEC-3.6; Date: 27 June 2011; Source: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/06/26/human-smugglers- 

continue-unabated/]  

Extracted from: DHS Open Source Enterprise. Daily Human Trafficking and Smuggling Report  

28 June 2011