BURMA: CRACKING DOWN ON TRAFFICKING FROM THE DELTA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000619

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/HSTC; EAP/MLS; G/TIP
DEPT OF LABOR FOR ILAB
GENEVA FOR LABOR ATTACHE
BANGKOK FOR LABOR/TIP OFFICER
PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: PHUM KWMN KCRM KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB SMIG BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: CRACKING DOWN ON TRAFFICKING FROM THE DELTA

REF: A. RANGOON 575

B. BANGKOK 1588

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1. (C) Summary. Aware that the conditions in the Irrawaddy
Delta have deteriorated since Cyclone Nargis hit, making more
people vulnerable to trafficking, the Police Anti-Trafficking
Unit (ATU) has stepped up its monitoring of human trafficking
and smuggling into neighboring countries. In June, the ATU
intercepted approximately 150 women, children, and men; more
than 80 were from the delta. According to the ATU, some of
these individuals voluntarily chose to seek economic
opportunities abroad while others were enticed by specific
job offers. ATU officers, who arrested five suspected
traffickers in June, continue to investigate these cases.
All victims have been repatriated to their homes. The ATU,
coordinating with Save the Children, World Vision, and the
International Organization for Migration, continue to assist
the survivors and victims' families from the April 2008
trafficking case in Ranong Province, Thailand. According to
Save the Children and World Vision, the NGOs will work with
Liberty Insurance Company to ensure that compensation for the
54 deceased workers is provided to their families. End
Summary.

Cyclone Survivors Vulnerable
--------------


2. (C) Economic conditions in Burma continue to deteriorate,
leaving men, women, and children vulnerable to human
trafficking. According to Police Colonel Sit Aye, Cyclone
Nargis survivors from the Irrawaddy Delta are the most
vulnerable, as most of them lost their homes, families, and
livelihoods (Ref A). The Anti-Trafficking Unit (ATU) has
seen an increase in trafficking and people smuggling into
China and Thailand since May, with most of the people coming
from cyclone-affected areas, he noted. To combat
trafficking, Anti-Trafficking police in the border areas
increased their inspections of vehicles moving across the
border, particularly in the border crossings of Muse,
Kauthaung, and Myawaddy.


3. (C) In June, the Anti-trafficking units intercepted more
than 150 Burmese trying to cross into Thailand and China, Lt.
Colonel Rahlyan Mone told Save the Children's TIP office.
Between June 11-15, the ATU investigated seven trafficking
cases involving 89 cyclone survivors. Of the 89 people, 48
were women, 31 were men, and 10 were children. According to
Save the Children Deputy Director Guy Caves, the majority of
these victims voluntarily chose to leave Burma, with the
expectation that their brokers would find jobs for them
abroad. Several of the brokers posed as aid workers,
promising women and children undefined jobs paying
200,00-300,000 kyat ($167-250) per month. In most instances,
the victims did not pay a fee to a broker, Caves told us.
The ATU classified these cases as trafficking because they
either involved children (smuggling of children in Burma is
considered trafficking) or the police believed the brokers
would exploit the victims once they crossed the border.


4. (C) The ATU arrested five alleged brokers in June;
investigations remain ongoing. Col. Sit Aye emphasized that
the brokers will be put on trial as soon as the police have
enough evidence to convict them of trafficking. Caves told
us that the police, working with the Myanmar Women's
Federation and the Department of Social Welfare (DSW),
repatriated the victims to their homes or families. Not all
of the victims from the Irrawaddy Delta wanted to return, so

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DSW officials helped locate families in Rangoon where they
could stay, he noted. DSW officials provided trafficking
awareness training to the victims before sending them home
and gave them referrals for social services.

Compensating Ranong Victims' Families
--------------


5. (C) Save the Children, World Vision, and the
International Office of Migration (IOM) continue to work
closely with the Burmese police to assist the survivors of
the April 2008 trafficking case in Thailand's Ranong Province
(Ref B). According to Save the Children TIP official Win Ma
Ma Aye, Save the Children helped reunify 22 of the 66
survivors with their families in Burma, with IOM and World
Vision assisting the remaining 44 individuals. Win Ma Ma Aye
lauded the ATU's work in this case, noting that the police
not only repatriated the survivors and coordinated with the
Thai police to arrest some of the brokers, but the ATU also
worked on behalf of the families of the 54 deceased workers
to get compensation from Liberty Insurance Company. The
families should receive their money in two phases, for a
total of 100,000 baht (approximately $3200) per worker, she
noted. Save the Children, IOM, and World Vision will assist
with the disbursements of the funds to ensure that each
family receives its share.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) The Anti-Trafficking Unit is one of the few Burmese
Government organizations that does its job well, and thus
deserves some recognition for its efforts. Colonel Sit Aye
and his staff continue to demonstrate genuine commitment to
address trafficking and human smuggling, and have
significantly improved their coordination with UN agencies
and NGOs on these issues. During the next few years, these
ATU officers will retire; NGOs have voiced their concern
about whether the new police leadership will have the skills
necessary to continue the ATU's work. NGOs and UN agencies
will continue to educate and train the next generation of ATU
officers if we offer encouragement.

VILLAROSA