By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

THE recent discussion on the Carnival trial where defendants are facing people trafficking charges brings to mind what do human trafficking means?
I am not going to discuss the merits of the case which is now awaiting decision but try to accurately as possible enlighten readers on this increasingly prevalent form of crime and warn people not to be a victim of it.
Wikipedia, describestrafficking in human beings as " recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation."
People trafficking may involve force, fraud , deception or abuse of power.
Women who are victims of people trafficking are usually forced into prostitution, they are promised jobs or opportunities and then when they reach their destination they find out that they were fooled about the nature of the work they will do and that they are deceived about the salary they will be getting.
Usually, the situation becomes abusive that escape will be difficult and dangerous.
In Palau people trafficking carries a penalty of 25 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
Also in Palau no one has been convicted of people trafficking charges yet, whatever the outcome of the trial could set a legal precedent.
People trafficking is a serious crime that need to be curtailed, it’s an offense against human dignity and violates fundamental human rights.
Calling for cooperation
President Remengesau is set to deliver his State of the Republic Address today.
He will deliver it at the time that the senators are locked in a legal battle whether it is constitutional for Sen. Joshua Koshiba to sit as Senate President.
Sen. Santy Asanuma has made an announcement that it will not attend the president’s address nor will they be part of the regular session.
The House of Delegates meanwhile has had a reorganization which they say is aimed at facilitating maximum participation and cooperation among members of the House.
To be expected, President Remengesau’s address will list priority measures that are awaiting approval from Congress right away.
However, politics again may delay these pieces of legislation, unless the Senate resolves its issue immediately.
The president can help put this issue to rest by encouraging the lawmakers to unite and settle their differences for the good of the country.
Each branch of the government will play a role in achieving this unity, sometimes the system is not the problem, it’s our attitudes that need to be changed to better improve the country.
Issues will be solved immediately if we can only learn to listen, political differences could be set aside when one thinks of the public good rather than special interests.
We hope for a resolution soon on the political differences. A compromise and an open dialogue among our leaders will help achieve this. Pointing fingers should cease because it could be the country’s economic direction that is at stake here.