Anti-human trafficking efforts in India gives more power to corrupted
policemen
http://www.examiner.com/x-24740-Norfolk-Human-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d8-Antihuman-trafficking-efforts-in-India-gives-more-power-to-corrupted-policemen
Many experts unanimously point out corruption and bureaucracy as two of
the main causes behind human trafficking in India. Yet, Indian tourism
ministry recently announced that it would place the code of conducts and
guidelines against child trafficking and pornography throughout tourism
sites in Goa, India. [1] According to an article, the government will
require the hotels, taxi drivers, tourist operators, and other service
sectors to follow the code of conduct to fight against child trafficking
in Goa. [2] However, given the history of corruption and bureaucracy in
Goa, the ministry's effort seems rather beating the bushes.
What the code of conduct implies
According to a report, the service sectors in Goa are prevented from
assisting tourists from seeking child pornography or prostitution by the
code of conduct. The stipulation of the code of conduct will required
them to alert "police" when discovering child pornography materials on
the guests. If they fail to abide by the guidelines, the service sectors
will lose their licenses. Also, they will be penalized by the authorities.
A little insights on the policemen in Goa: they actively search for the
money in your pockets
An Australian wife of an Indian man testifies her horrific experience
with the Indian policemen in Goa. When leaving the hotel after spending
a few days in the region, they were accompanied by three Indian
undercover policemen. They physically pulled her husband to the corner
and started questioning him about who he is or where he is from. The
policemen threatened the couple that the husband would be placed in
jail, once they found the drug in the hotel room that they were staying
at. As the police began their vain search for drug in the couple's hotel
room, They said:
IF WE FIND DRUGS IN YOUR ROOM, WE'LL PUT HIM IN JAIL. HOW MUCH ARE YOU
WILLING TO PAY TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? [3]
Aside from the incident above, there have been other cases involving
police corruption in Goa in the past. In another incident, a police
officer in Goa benefited enough from the bribes to own hotels in
Switzerland and two other providences in India. [4]
What would likely happen after the implementation: A Reasonable Assumption
One can only conclude based on the incidents stated above that the code
of conduct implemented by the tourism ministry would further open the
doors for the abuse of police power. Once the guideline is placed in the
service sectors, the police can question the hotel owners and operators
about the child pornography or prostitution in their proactive search
for bribes. In addition, the police would likely question the tourists
for possession of child pornographic materials and ask for money to
avoid consequences. In fact, it would not be surprising even if the
American or European pedophiles visiting Goa would walk free after
bribing the policemen for their misconducts. One report stated that the
tourism industry would consult the experts from International
organizations including the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes on Tourism
Option. The issue, however, remains the same: Who is going to prevent
the police corruption from creeping into child trafficking issues in Goa?
As published at:
http://www.examiner.com/x-24740-Norfolk-Human-Rights-Examiner~y2010m1d8-Antihuman-trafficking-efforts-in-India-gives-more-power-to-corrupted-policemen
