BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — January 15, 2015 — Human rights groups and labor organizations across Asia urged Thailand's military government on Thursday to scrap a proposal to send prisoners onto Thai fishing boats to fill labor shortages.
In a letter addressed directly to coup leader-turned-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the 45 organizations including Human Rights Watch said the pilot project would pose "a serious threat to the human rights of prisoners" and sending them to sea is a violation of international rights standards.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said the project had not yet been implemented and authorities were still weighing such concerns before deciding whether to go ahead. The government has said that only "well-behaved" prisoners would qualify to participate, and they would work voluntarily and would be paid.
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