THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

A latest report on human trafficking released by the United States two days ago showed that the rate of occurrence of human trafficking have gone up in years. In spite of warnings from the US to all countries that have high incidence of human smuggling, the problem persisted owing to the fact that the countries identified in the said report were known to have a weak legal system and corrupt airport and immigration officials and other concerned authorities who tolerates the problem.

The Philippines and Vietnam which was on the top list of the US report failed to stamp-out human trafficking even though warnings and notice of communication had been continuously relayed by the US. In the Philippines human smuggling is a daily routine for scheming government officials in cahoots with progenitor of evil.

Most of the people being trafficked involved young women. Worst, these people ends in the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore and other countries. The term modern slavery applies to these hapless people. They work in brothels and known hotels as masseuse cum sex partners, household slaves and work as prostitutes in well known parks of the host country.

In Singapore, many Filipino women recruited as tourists works as prostitutes catering to seafarers and other “seeker of flesh.” In Malaysia, Vietnamese and Filipinos work in prostitution dens and hotels providing sexual pleasure to patrons.

I honestly hurt and feel sadness when I was informed by my fellow crew member that Filipinos in Singapore ply their trade openly in the “Dragon City.” Shore leave is a must in Singapore because the country offers everything one could dream of. The same with Malaysia; young Vietnamese and Filipino women is a fixture in the country’s sex trade. But the thing is, these people are victims of human trafficking and the root cause is poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and abuse inflicted upon them by the environment they belong.

THE DANGER OF BERTHING OPERATION: A MASTER’S CONCERN

The danger of berthing or docking operation is always a Master’s concern especially so when the jetty or port is not properly equipped with devices like fixed fenders and manpower or mooring men whose job is to assist a ship maneuvering its way to berth. Aside from this when the jetty or port is awkwardly located in an area where the depth of water is too shallow that there’s no room for ships to maneuver which was the case in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Another concern is that when the Pilot lacks the ability or competence in doing what is appropriate during berthing or docking operation. Sometimes miscommunication between the Pilot and tugboats contribute danger during berthing. This incident actually happened last June 29, 2009 in the early morning of Monday in Can Tho, Vietnam.

Marine Tanker Minorca was there to unload LPG cargo and unfortunately things gone wrong during the ship’s maneuvering. The ship’s portside bow accidentally rammed the jetty’s other side which have no fender attached to it, causing dent to the vessel’s structure and inadvertently moved the jetty’s original position as alleged by the port officials of Vietnam.

The Master blamed the Pilot for his incompetence but the port personnel said otherwise. They asked for payment for the damaged done to their jetty. It was a compromising situation but then it was business as usual and the ship’s cargo was unloaded to the jetty’s depot. Because it was the Master’s concern, he took the incident as a lesson learned.

THE CONTINUING PROBLEM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

A latest report on human trafficking released by the United States two days ago showed that the rate of occurrence of human trafficking have gone up in years. In spite of warnings from the US to all countries that have high incidence of human smuggling, the problem persisted owing to the fact that the countries identified in the said report were known to have a weak legal system and corrupt airport and immigration officials and other concerned authorities who tolerates the problem.

The Philippines and Vietnam which was on the top list of the US report failed to stamp-out human trafficking even though warnings and notice of communication had been continuously relayed by the US. In the Philippines human smuggling is a daily routine for scheming government officials in cahoots with progenitor of evil.

Most of the people being trafficked involved young women. Worst, these people ends in the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore and other countries. The term modern slavery applies to these hapless people. They work in brothels and known hotels as masseuse cum sex partners, household slaves and work as prostitutes in well known parks of the host country.

In Singapore, many Filipino women recruited as tourists works as prostitutes catering to seafarers and other “seeker of flesh.” In Malaysia, Vietnamese and Filipinas work in prostitution dens and hotels providing sexual pleasure to patrons.

I honestly hurt and feel sadness when I was informed by my fellow crew member that Filipinas in Singapore ply their trade openly in the “Dragon City.” Shore leave is a must in Singapore because the country offers everything one could dream of. The same with Malaysia; young Vietnamese and Filipino women is a fixture in the country’s sex trade. But the thing is, these people are victims of human trafficking and the root cause is poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and abuse inflicted upon them by the environment they belong.

VIETNAM’S SERENE BEAUTY

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Vietnam is not only about socialism or is it communism, but the country offers strong presence from its burgeoning economy and natural beauty. Foreign tourists visit Vietnam in droves to witness the country’s transformation from being one of the poorest in the region to becoming the emerging economy in Asia.
Now that the world had accepted back Vietnam after being spurned for decades, the country started to look great since then. Tourism started to show sign of hope and subsequently the country experienced unprecedented tourism boom. Tourist spots were primed and developed and foreigners responded in a hurry to see Vietnam’s emergence after taking a cue from the late Chinese leader Deng Xiao Peng.
Vietnam is now one of the preferred destinations in the region because of its natural beauty. But in spite of it, some part of the country is still unspoiled or unchanged by the rapid modernization of the country. Vung Ru is one of them. This rural coastal area is located south of the country. The place is quiet, calm, and serene and blows rustic winds coming from both the sea and the majestic mountain that serves a tunnel for a railroad and a long road carved on the side of the mountain. Both infrastructures were historic because it was constructed by the Americans in the 70’s Vietnam.