TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE MEKONG: KIEN GIANG PROVINCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000388

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL CVIS KWMN ELAB SMIG SOCI TW
VM
SUBJECT: TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN THE MEKONG: KIEN GIANG PROVINCE

REF: 05 HCMC 1299

HO CHI MIN 00000388 001.2 OF 002



1. (U) Summary: Kien Giang Province is reportedly a source of
trafficked women and children, particularly for the sex trade in
Cambodia. The provincial Women's Union is spearheading
anti-trafficking efforts working with the International Office
of Migration on an awareness campaign to counsel potential
victims and assist actual victims to reintegrate into the
community. Kien Giang's openness to cooperation with
international NGOs is a model. Throughout the Mekong, the fight
against traffickers is carried out largely by provincial level
officials with Womens' Unions often in the lead. End Summary.


Background
--------------


2. (U) Poor agricultural villages in the Mekong Delta
have been the primary source of brides marrying Taiwanese (at a
rate of 4,000 per year - Reftel) and are also the hunting ground
for traffickers. According to IOM's 2005 data, 700 women and
children were documented as trafficked to Cambodia. IOM
believes 22,000 Vietnamese women work in the sex industry in
Cambodia, though the vast majority appears to have migrated
voluntarily in search of higher income.

Recognition of a Problem
--------------


3. (U) During an April 5 visit to Kien Giang province, the
Consul General met with the provincial Women's Union to review
provincial efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Chairwoman
Nguyen Viet Nu said that the Women's Union has focused efforts
on assisting vulnerable women in the villages along the
province's 56 kilometer border with Cambodia and in the fishing
communities. Aided with a USD 15,000 grant from the
International Office of Migration (IOM),the union has
implemented an awareness campaign highlighting the dangers of
trafficking. The campaign has incorporated a telephone hotline
that counsels callers on risks of irregular migration, and
offers advice on alternative vocations and training
opportunities.


4. (SBU) Nu added that recently, four women who were trafficked
to Malaysia through Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City were
repatriated back to Kien Giang following IOM and the Women's
Union joint intervention in Kuala Lumpur. The women reported
that they had been lured to Ho Chi Minh City with the promise of
lucrative jobs, then later sold to brothels in Cambodia, where
they were further trafficked to Malaysia. Upon return they were
given medical treatment by IOM staff and counseled by the
Women's Union to facilitate their reintegration back into Kien
Giang.


5. (SBU) Madame Nu said that the Women's Union coordinates
counter-trafficking activities in Kien Giang with local police.
The two sides routinely share information. Reports from border
patrol units are often relayed to the union directly from the
field. In turn, the women's union has provided provincial
police authorities with actionable information from its
counseling sessions with vulnerable or reintegrated women.


6. (SBU) Madame Nu said that she is concerned with the
"excessive" number of Vietnamese brides immigrating to Taiwan,
which she considered to be "an abnormal trend in the province."
According to women's union data, in 2004, some 500 Kien Giang
women married Taiwanese men, 300 in 2005, and 42 during the
first quarter of 2006. While not necessarily victims of
trafficking, the Chairwoman was concerned that individuals or
organized syndicates maybe exploiting some of these women once
in Taiwan. However, she did not mention any specific cases of
trafficked brides to Taiwan that had come to her attention.

Open to International Cooperation
--------------


7. (SBU) Chairwoman Nu was very positive about her relationship
with IOM. She added that it is the responsibility of the union
to work with international NGOs to spotlight TIP issues. She
hopes to build on her partnership with IOM to tackle poverty the
root cause of trafficking in the provinces well as to raise
awareness among the vulnerable populations, and to enhance
social services. The Chairwoman noted that cooperation between
provincial authorities and foreign entities in Kien Giang was
expanding and that for the first time in the province's history
a foreigner, Mark Estes, Project Director of Habitat For
Humanity International (HFHI),was awarded a certificate of
merit by Kien Giang provincial authorities for his NGO's
contributions to women's issues.


8. Comment: The discussion with the Kien Giang Women's Union

HO CHI MIN 00000388 002.2 OF 002


Chief illustrates the increasing awareness and concern about TIP
issues in the Mekong Delta. This fact is fundamental as it is
in the provinces that national policy must be translated into
local action against TIP. The discussion with Madame Nu also
highlights the opportunities for increased international
collaboration to combat TIP in the Mekong Delta as well as the
need for additional resources to assist well-meaning provincial
staff. End Comment.
WINNICK