Philippines: Due to political pressure, the Arroyo administration has been forced to take serious action over November 2009’s Election Massacre. A suspect from the Ampatuan political clan was charged:
“Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao, southern Philippines on Nov. 23…”
The government has also set up a special commission charged with investigating the estimated 132 militias (totaling 10,000 men) held by various political clans (ridos) throughout the country. However, the commission is only allowed to make recommendations to President Arroyo. Legal enforcement will be carried out by the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the order of the president. Since the militias are not secret, some are questioning why a commission is needed at all, other than for political popularity.
Laos and Thailand: In light of the recent deportation of 4,000 Hmong to Laos from refugee camps in Thailand, where they have been since America’s conflict in Vietnam, the United Nations has demanded that Laos provide them access to monitor the plight of the returning refugees. Not surprisingly, Laos has refused. Thailand has stated there is no reason for concern, which I suppose is why they deported people who they have previously found in need of protection. The Laotian government has claimed that the refugees being returned were illegal migrants, which will be “housed” in “villages” dedicated to their “re-integration”. Sounds like a form of Laogai.
Myanmar: Here is an interesting post about child soldiers and slaves in Myanmar.
According to a recent report, the military junta also claims to rescue 1000 victims of human trafficking since the year 2005. [2] The same report also stated that more than 1100 traffickers were arrested in connection with 400 trafficking cases according to the regime’s agency. [3]
Both the junta and the rebel ethnic militias utilize children in this way, usually sold by poor parents in return for basic sustinance.
