BACK FROM BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thai intelligence and law enforcing organizations are in alert position as human traffickers are hunting and preparing for new routes to Thailand.

Trafficking to Thailand through sea has remained halted for several months due to monsoon. But it may resume in next weeks as rainy season will be over.

Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATAW) researcher June Shai Tang, who has been working for a long on trafficking of Rohingya and Bangladeshis through seas, told banglanews on October 6 that they have learned that some migrant boats are still floating in seas and waiting for the end of monsoon.

However, the researcher is not sure about the number of trafficking victims as well as the presence of any Bangladesh nationals there.

Sources said the boats have been spotted in Sagu Khyuen, Yea Insel, Munang and Ramri Island.

According to them, usually the boats start sailing at this time. But this year the migrant boats are not moving towards the shores due to long monsoon.

Sources concerned about human trafficking in Thailand told banglanews that the migrant boats usually use the rivers Say Thai, Co Saya, Saya Nuea, Thung La Ong, Co Li, Bang Tip Nai to go to deep forests like Bang Bang and Khu Rat.

Then, they use to enter the deep forest sailing through river Bang Yea Mai and landed on Ko Ra, Ko Fa Thong, Prafhet Beach and other adjacent islands with deep forests.

Moreover, the migrant boats also land on the islands of Phang NGA, Ko Yeao Noi, Ko Yeao Yeai, Krabi and Co Pu in the Andaman Sea near Phuket.

The traffickers used to bring aspirant migrants to Pedang Basar border between Thailand and Malaysia using several hundreds kilometers of Phetkashem Highway running through forests.

However, the Thai army and police have imposed restriction in Satun and Thang Ban National Park areas. So, they think that it will be difficult for the traffickers to go from Ko Phayem or Ko Chang to north and southwards through Phetkashem Highway.

Sources further said that the traffickers may go through Nego Waterfall National Park, Kayeng Krang National Park or Nong Loom Pho forests.

They may also use Moo area on Phetkashem Highway through Bat Suan, Chai Kha, Ban Suan and Mokfolaram Garden.

Sources said the deep forest would not be easy to cross for the traffickers especially at night. But they can use the path of the forest. Besides the Phetkashem road near the forest, there are rubber and palm fields.

There are also local transports by which the trafficker might make groups of three or four migrant people. Usually, a small number of law enforcers guarded in this north-south road of the country’s eastern side. It is difficult to give security check in whole highway and forest areas.

The traffickers can come taking the way Dong Thong to Ruer Sub District village, then turning to westward they will get No 44 highway. Through this, they can reach Thab Bok Khorani National Park. From there they can go to Satun frontier area through Krabi.

But after that area, the activities of the law enforcers become boost up on No 4 highway. Now, the law enforcers have increased their security checks in the forest from Krabi to Satun.

But there is huge possibility to go to Hat Yat from Phatu Loong to Songkhola using No 41 highway. Then, taking No 2 highway the traffickers can reach Malaysia’s Pedang Basar or Sedao frontier. There they can use Kholong La, Kholong Chan Rai, Khao Nam Khang National Park forests as their camps.

BBC’s South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head has been working on human trafficking in these areas for a long. He said to banglanews in Bangkok office on October 7 that the villagers of the area are poor so the traffickers can use them in exchange of money. The villagers may also get involved in trafficking.

The journalist further said Thailand government enforced huge restriction getting the experience of last season.

So, the traffickers will face a problem if they use the previous route this time.

Police are in alert position, especially in Rarang area. They suspect that human traffickers will take the aspirant migrants through new routes.

BDST: 0851 HRS, OCT 19, 2015
BD/RR/SMS