Kathmandu, Dec. 24
The Embassy of Nepal
in Bangkok, Thailand repatriated five Nepali nationals to Nepal in a week
including one woman who were sent here on Tuesday.
They were rescued from Myawaddi in Myanmar and brought to Thailand via the Tak
Immigration Office in Mae Sot, and repatriated to Nepal with the support from
the Thai government agencies, the International Organization of Migration and
some non-government organisations, informed the Embassy in a statement.
Earlier, in March this year, 13 Nepalis who
were stranded in Thailand-Myanmar border were rescued and sent to Nepal.
In rescue efforts during the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020, victims of human trafficking were also among the 247 Nepalis
repatriated from Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has
issued a travel advisory urging Nepalis preparing to go to Thailand, Myanmar,
Cambodia and Laos to exhibit extra cautions.
According to it, the human traffickers have
been taking Nepalis to Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos through Thailand with a
promise of high-income jobs in various private sector companies, casinos and
digital marketing institutions. Many of such victims were also forced to do
illegal work while some have also been kept captive.
Any foreign national visiting these
countries with 'tourist visa' are not allowed to work there, and they are not
open for Nepali nationals for foreign employment. If anyone promises employment
for Nepali people in these countries, its legally punishable.
"The Nepali Embassy strongly urges
everyone to follow the government-mandated labour approval process before
seeking employment abroad and advises against being lured by promises of quick
wealth in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand," said
the embassy.
The Embassy in Bangkok had also issued a
travel advisory two years ago and the number of Nepali people falling victim to
the lures of human traffickers has significantly come down, claimed the
embassy.
Khaga Nath Adhikari, former Ambassador of
Nepal, said that multiple gangs of human traffickers operate in the notorious
routes including Nepal-Thailand, Nepal-India-Thailand and
Nepal-India-Myanmar-Thailand.
These gangs take Nepali citizens to Laos,
Cambodia, and Myanmar while some are also taken to Vietnam and Brunei where
they are forced to involve in illegal work, their passports are confiscated
while some are tortured and deprived of their wages and payments. Many of such
workers are forced to work for more than 12 hours a day.
"The traffickers attract Nepali youth
with a promise to take them to Canada, Japan and European countries where they
would earn handsome amount of money. But when they reach Thailand, they are
kept there until their money and valuable belongings are gradually snatched
away in the name of visa charges or other fees," said Adhikari.
The trafficker gangs' modus operandi is to
let people get exhausted with their hopes, money and belongings.
Adhikari said that while he was in Bangkok
(2014-2019), rescue operations were also conducted in Cambodia as well.
According to him, lack of severe punishment
to the human traffickers has long been the reason behind the growing
exploitation of Nepalis in east Asia.
The government of Nepal has appreciated the
cooperation of the Thai authorities in rescuing and expatriating Nepali people
from Thailand and neighbouring countries. There is no bilateral extradition
treaty between Nepal and Thailand but they are cooperating on the basis of
reciprocity commitment, said Adhikari.
However, the Ministry of Labour Employment
and Social Security said that it has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to coordinate in the matter.
It is planning to consult with the
stakeholders on the matter only on Thursday.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 December 2024.
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