Forced CriminalityArchive 2008–2016

Forced Criminality in Tachilek, Myanmar (2008)

A forced criminality case from 2008 in Tachilek, Myanmar, Thailand.

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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

It is in process now, in that the baby's mum has borrowed money and is now on the way to get the baby back.

Response and intervention

Law enforcement in Myanmar? Hi. I just picked up my wife from the airport and we gave a lift to a friend she met on the plane. We took the friend to the bus station in Chiang Rai where she was getting a bus to Mae Sai to head into Tachilek, Myanmar to get her 4 month old baby back. What happened? The women in question is a Thai who sells clothes in the market in Mae Sai. Sadly her husband is addicted to gambling. Gambling is illegal in Thailand (although there are small underground gambling dens), but it is legal in Myanmar and there are large casinos there. Sadly the small amount the woman makes is usually then used to feed her husband's gambling addiction across the border in Tachilek. But during the last trip across the border, it wasn't just money the husband lost. He had taken their baby to the casino and put it in child care while he gambled. But he got into such debt that the money lenders / local mafia, decided to take the baby. Choice for this family: repay the debt or the baby gets sold. It has been 10 days since the baby has been taken and in this time the mother has been desperately trying to raise funds, beg for money, get family to sell whatever they can. She was finally returning from Bangkok where her mother had sold property to get her money, and now she is on her way to get her baby back. Interesting. A good reminder that slavery exists where there are other problems. War, gambling, drug addiction, corruption, a lazy/ineffective police force, no desire on behalf of the political and economic elite to help, poverty - are all things that help create an environment where humans can then be stolen, sold, trafficked or used as slaves.

Nearby cases

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Child Labor2008

Mae Sai, Thailand, 2008

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In two separate cases, young Burmese children were rescued from trafficking situations. Pim, the girl, is eight years old. Her Burmese mother forced her to go to the border bridge every day to beg for money. The mom is addicted to opium which grows widely in the Golden Triangle region. The mother tells Pim not to come home unless she comes back with 300 baht (roughly $10). With local events in Myanmar already depressing the low tourist season, finding donors is tough business. The abolitionist Kru Nam hears through the street grapevine that the mother is looking to sell Pim to the highest bidder. The boy, Kho, is 11. Two years ago he was trafficked into Thailand for child labor. He escaped and found refuge at Buddies along the Roadside. His Burmese family made contact and demanded that Kho come back home, and Kru Nam happily complied with their request to reunite Kho with his family. Two months passed, and Kru Nam ran into Kho in the streets of Mae Sai. He begged Kru Nam to return to Buddies. His family is forcing him to sell drugs - primarily ice and amphetamines - on each side of the border. When kids are caught selling drugs, the police treat them lightly. Adults, on the other hand, will be sentenced to long prison terms. So many adults use kids as their drug peddlers.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

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Chiang Rai, Thailand, 2009

Thailand TH

Noi Noi comes from a very poor family in the northeastern part of Thailand. She is the oldest of 4 children. Her father is an alcoholic and is very aggressive when drunk. He would consistently beat the whole family. After several years her mother could not handle the situation any longer and invited Noi to take poison so that they would die together. Noi was afraid. Not long after that her mother committed suicide. Noi was 9 years old. From then on Noi became her father’s “wife”. Many times a week her father abused her and he also invited his friends over to do the same. From the age of 9 till 12 her life was all misery. With no mother, no protection; she had to take care of her younger siblings.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking2009

Chiang Rai, Thailand, 2009

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A thirteen year old girl's boyfriend brought her to Chaing Rai. He sold her to a brothel in the Southern Islands of Thailand to work as a prostitute.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016