The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Union of Myanmar today issued an announcement with respect to fifth annual “Trafficking in Persons Report” issued by the US Department of State this month. The full context of the issue is as follows:

The fifth annual “Trafficking in Persons Report” issued by the US Department of State this month is a compendium of situations in selected countries. Although the stated aim of the US is to eradicate trafficking in persons internationally, the report lacks objectivity and does not inspire greater action against human trafficking.

The section in the report concerning Myanmar is contradictory. While it alleges that Myanmar does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, it acknowledges that Myanmar has made improved efforts to combat trafficking for sexual exploitation.

With regard to prosecution, the report notes that over the past year, the Myanmar Government did make progress in addressing trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, including establishing a police task force to combat trafficking, enhancing cooperation with neighbours, and beginning to draft anti-trafficking legislation.

With regard to protection, the report criticizes Myanmar for providing minimal assistance to victims, yet acknowledges that Myanmar has set up a repatriation centre on the Myanmar-Thailand border.

The Myawaddy Repatriation Centre was established on 18 February 2002 and efforts are being made to provide services to the victims of trafficking in cooperation with the United Nations Inter-Agency Project (UNIAP), Save the Children (UK) and World Vision.

Moreover, the Preventive Working Committee for Trafficking in Persons which was formed in July 2002 has been active. Between 2002 to 2004, the Committee reviewed 474 cases. As a result, 519 persons had legal action taken against them; 2629 victims were rescued; 722061 were educated regarding the danger posed by traffickers and 17280 persons repatriated.

With regard to prevention, the report notes that the measures adopted by the Myanmar Government to prevent trafficking for sexual exploitation include publicizing the dangers in border areas through discussion-groups, distribution of printed materials and media programming, but that the efforts remained under-funeded. Myanmar considers trafficking in persons a serious issue. Accordingly, it has been tackling it through a comprehensive approach that includes a national plan of action, legislation, and cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels.

The National Plan of Action contains strategies for prosecution, protection and prevention. A Committee on Combating Trafficking in Persons, a Preventive Working Committee for Trafficking in Persons and a Task Force to draft the anti-trafficking law have been established. The Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Law, a prerequisite for combating transnational organized crimes including trafficking in persons, was enacted in 2004. Moreover, as money laundering is linked to trafficking in persons, the Control of Money Laundering Law and Rules were enacted in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

The Central Control Board (CCB) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FlU) have also been set up.

With regard to international cooperation, an MoU was signed between Myanmar and Australia on Asia Regional Cooperation to Prevent People Trafficking (ARCPPT). Under this programme, Myanmar has also been cooperating with Cambodia , Laos and Thailand . As recommended by the ARCPPT, an Anti-Trafficking Unit was formed in March 2004 to investigate human trafficking. Myanmar has also acceded to the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) and to its Protocols to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and to Smuggling of Migrants.

In addition, Myanmar hosted the Meeting for the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking in Yangon on 27-29 October 2004. The MoU on Coordinated Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) was signed by the six countries of the Greater Mekong Sub-region. It is a critical step to creating a regional cooperation platform to combat trafficking in persons.

A mobile team to combat trafficking in women and children formed in collaboration with UNIAP in Combating Human Trafficking in the Mekong Subregion conducts on-site visits to train mid-level government officials on strategies to combat trafficking.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of Myanmar and Thailand on Cooperation in the Employment of Workers has been in force since June 2003. The agreement has proved to be effective in dealing with trafficking problems.

Myanmar nationals in foreign lands, including Thailand , have been repatriated in accordance with government guidelines. A receiving station has been set up at Myawaddy near the Thai border.

In sum, Myanmar does not condone the practice of trafficking in persons and is constantly striving to overcome the pernicious practice. It is therefore regrettable that the United States Department of State has turned a blind eye to the firm determination demonstrated by Myanmar in eradicating the problem of trafficking in persons and the progress achieved so far.

The Government of Myanmar therefore takes exception to the placement of Myanmar in Tier 3 of the State Department's classification of countries that do not comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of the US Congress.