Source: AFP, 05-06-2008

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday kept Gulf Arab allies Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia on a blacklist of countries trafficking in people, but removed ally Bahrain and trading partner Malaysia. Fiji, Moldova and Papua New Guinea were added to the blacklist contained in the annual report which analyzed efforts in 170 countries to combat trafficking for forced labor, prostitution, military service and other purposes.

Also remaining on the "Tier 3" blacklist are Sudan, Syria, Algeria, Iran, Myanmar, and Cuba, according to the State Department's "Trafficking in Persons Report" for 2008. Bahrain and Malaysia as well as Venezuela, Uzbekistan and Equatorial Guinea were all elevated from the blacklist last year to the "Tier 2" watch list this year, according to the congressionally-mandated report.

The 14 countries on the blacklist could face sanctions, including the withholding by the United States of non-humanitarian, non-trade related foreign aid. Countries that receive no such assistance would be subject to withholding of funding for government officials to participate in educational and cultural exchange programs.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar admit men and women from Asian and African countries to work as domestic servants or other low-skilled laborers. Many subsequently "face conditions of involuntary servitude," the report said, adding that to a lesser extent, they are forced into prostitution. "For the last four years, the weak performance of several nations in the Persian Gulf has been the matter of great concern and disappointment," said State Department official Mark Lagon. Saudi Arabia is on "Tier 3," which lists the worse trafficking offenders, for the fourth time.