Trafficked fishermen released-for a price
A group of eight Cambodians held for ransom on a Thai fishing boat were freed over the weekend after their families paid 1,000 baht (US$32) per person to a human trafficker in Thailand who is still holding another nine victims, victims and police said yesterday. The men, who hail from Torng Tralach commune, in Kampong Cham province’s Srey Santhor district, were allegedly trafficked to Thailand from bordering Koh Kong province last month by a Thai woman whose name remains unknown. Torng Tralach commune chief Chas Choeun said yesterday he had filled a complaint to Koh Kong anti-human trafficking authorities seeking help to rescue those still trapped on a boat that set sail from Trat province’s Klorng Sun district, in southeast Thailand. … In Kongchit, Koh Kong coordinator of the rights group Licadho, said 20 people who were trafficked into Thailand through the province were intercepted last month. …
