Keyboard predators: SE Asia’s kids targeted by online paedophiles

In this file photo taken on May 23, 2018, children play as a fire engulfs a slum area in Manila. — AFP pic

Published on 17 May 2019

BANGKOK, May 17 — Southeast Asia is in the grip of a fresh surge of paedophile activity with predators orchestrating and watching abuse on live-streaming sites and via webcams, and paying for it with near-untraceable cryptocurrency, victims and children’s charities warn.

With widespread poverty, lax laws, and creaking judicial systems, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and the Philippines have long been seen as soft spots by foreign and local paedophiles seeking out underage sex in person.

Tougher policing and greater awareness have deterred some offenders, but technology has shifted the patterns of abuse in a region with growing access to broadband internet and encrypted technology.

Paedophiles can now use an array of mobile and online tools — including social networks, video-sharing sites, and the dark web — to direct and watch child rape and sexual abuse with anonymity, experts warn.

“Predators watch the rapes on large platforms that are not likely to close,” said François Xavier Souchet, of Thai-based NGO Terre des Hommes.

“It’s live, nothing is recorded... everything is encrypted. They pay more and more in Bitcoins, encrypted money makes their transactions as secure as possible,” he added.

This week online giants including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook are giving evidence to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA), which is being held in London and will look at how to prevent online sex crimes as part of its remit.

‘I want to die’

Demand for child sexual abuse via webcam is an increasing cause of human trafficking, according to a UN report, with suggestions Thailand has become a hub in the trade, as well as the Philippines.

Cassie, a Filipina victim, said she was just 12 when she was forced to commit sexual acts — both with an adult man and alone — in front of a webcam.

She moved to Manila to work as a maid but was exploited by her mother’s employer. The torment went on for five years.

She said “I felt trapped, betrayed and alone. I was thinking, ‘I want to die, I want to die because of this pain, but I can’t’.”

Her abuser received a two-year jail term in 2017.

Last month, advocacy and legal aid group International Justice Mission (IJM) warned Philippine children were at risk of being forced into live streamed sex abuse, where paedophiles pay to direct so-called “shows” online.

“Easy access to the web and money transfer services make the country a global hotspot for this problem,” said IJM, noting that it is often parents or family members that organise or even commit the abuse.

Terre des Hommes drew attention to the problem using a computer-generated girl nicknamed “Sweetie” that hung out in chatrooms and was approached by about 20,000 people — mostly men — in a matter of weeks.

Last year a report by the Internet Watch Foundation found online child abuse imagery had increased by a third in 2017.

Death penalty

In March, a teacher was arrested and charged in his native France with rape, abuse of minors and possession of child pornography.

The 51-year-old, who worked in schools in Asia, is alleged to have befriended kids in a working-class Bangkok neighbourhood before building a rapport on social networks, police sources told AFP.

The same month, prosecutors charged another Frenchman with ordering videos of rape and sexual assaults of Filipino children.

The suspect, a 55-year-old former police officer, was arrested after a seizure of computers and live-streaming equipment in the Philippines.

In late April, former British Army officer Andrew Whiddett, 70, was found guilty by a London court of spending thousands of pounds paying for live-streamed sexual abuse of children from the Philippines.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates 80,000 people in the UK present some kind of sexual threat to children online.

The cyber-abuse phenomenon is reaching “Cambodia and Vietnam”, warned Damian Kean, of the Thai-based NGO ECPAT, which specialises in combating the sexual exploitation of children.

In hyperconnected Vietnam, foreign paedophiles are increasingly targeting young victims online, often on social media.

The communist state last year instated harsher penalties to combat the crime — anyone guilty of molesting a child under 16 faces 12 years in prison, while child rape comes with a maximum sentence of death.

But catching a paedophile requires help from the communities within which they operate — communities which are often marginalised, poor and mistrustful.

Souchet of Terre des Hommes explained: “Particularly ethnic minority communities across the region do not trust local authorities.” 

— AFP

SUHAKAM Reports on the Enforced Disappearances of Pastor Koh and Amri Che Mat

Pastor Raymond Koh was "disappeared" in broad daylight in SS4, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan on 13 February 2017.

On 24 November 2016, Amri Che Mat was last seen by his wife.

Two others that are briefly mentioned in the reports are Joshua Hilmi (better known as Hilmi Bin Hanim) and his wife Ruth Hilmi, nobody has seen them or heard from them since November 2016. The actual reported date of disappearance was said to be 6 March 2017.

These four disappearances are not mere coincidences. This web report is not supposed to concoct up more conspiracy theories or other mere facts. Those of you that are interested can go to the SUHAKAM website appended below this paragraph and read the reports that have been recently concluded by the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat. 

Reports of the public inquiries on Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat

These reports of enforced disappearances do establish that these enforced disappearances are nothing to do with religion and race. These religious and pious people, who are Godly Christians and Muslims, have stumbled into something more sinister.

These four disappeared people could have provided refuge to those who ran away from trafficking camps in Wang Kelian, Perlis. Despite the reported trafficking camps were discovered months earlier by the Malaysian Police, it seemed that most of the those found in the mass graves may not be accounted for. Some of the illegally held refugees have managed to slip away.

If one follows the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Wang Kelian incident one can actually string the perception that those that were detained by the traffickers at the Wang Kelian makeshift illegal camps, and some of these refugees could have escaped earlier. These escaped refugees could have sought assistance from any of those four people. Amri, Joshua and Ruth are based in the Northern state of Perlis that run some sort of a private 'Yayasan' or Foundation for the less fortunate.

Christian and Muslim Foundations have always the determination to help the poor and the less fortunate. Christian Missionaries and Foundations have for decades assisted the Burmese minorities in the Northwest and Western Thailand after the United Nations have abandoned their will to help the ethnic Burmese refugees.

Likewise, when these escaped-refugees were perhaps found begging or sleeping in the streets in the Northern states of Malaysia, some kindhearted religious people could have pointed or brought these people to the attention of the Yayasan or individuals that have a good heart for offering refuge despite the troubles.

For Muslims, whether Sunni or 'Syiah' (Shia), the Koran construes this as a form of 'Jihad' to help another fellow Muslim. In Sūrah 4-Al Nisa verses 74-76, "Let those fight in the cause of God. Who sell the life of this world for the hereafter. To him who fighteth in the cause of God,-whether he is slain or gets victory-Soon shall We give him a reward of great (value). And why should ye not fight in the cause of God and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)?-Men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will help!" Those who believe fight in the cause of God, and those who reject Faith fight in the cause of Evil: So fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan."

For Christians, the Bible's Chapter on Deuteronomy, Ch.15:7, specifically calls all Christians to assist any poor, needy, or disadvantaged person, "if there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother." And in Exodus Ch.23:6, it declares that Christians, "should not pervert justice or show impartiality to the poor (and the less fortunate) or favouritism to the great, but judge (all) your neighbour(s) fairly."

Hence, Amri Che Mat, Joshua and Ruth Helmi and Pastor Raymond Koh extended their aid and religious virtues to these helpless refugee victims. As God's disciples, they graciously extend their altruistic service.

The second thing that relishes a theoretical objective is the connection between the issue of trafficking of persons and the enforced disappearances is the fact that most of the disappearances happened in the Northern state of Perlis.

If the formula A+B = (B+A) C, then, most of the disappearances happened in and around the Northern state. The only disproportionate (wild) variable is Pastor Raymond Koh. He was abruptly taken in broad daylight in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. However, and bear in mind that Pastor Raymond Koh was previously somehow linked to a drug and arms smuggling syndicate. In that report, three suspects were arrested at Kota Bharu, Kuala Kangsar, and Kuantan and another suspect was shot dead in Baling, Kedah, a stone's throw away from the city of Betong in Thailand.

In that incident, the police chanced upon a house that was allegedly used for arms and drug smuggling. But what the police missed out is that the house could be the dwelling to house refugees on the run. Pastor Raymond Koh could have used the dwelling to house some runaways, as a place for protection from unwanting detections. Trafficking at the borders are not limited to just arms and drugs smuggling; trafficking of persons for labour and poached wildlife are common in these parts of Malaysia and Thailand. Recently, two Vietnamese poachers were arrested by authorities on 16 April 2019.

In February 2016, Bangladesh and Malaysia inked a formidable memorandum to bring in 1.5 million foreign workers. That's a big number. As a way to thwart suspicion on the number of Bangladeshis entering Malaysia, this memorandum could very well serve as a justifiable 'wool over the Rakyat's eyes' to cater to illegal workers entering Malaysia illegally. So if the lens is not sharp enough to catch what's happening on the ground, then that whole area is muddled.

Thirdly, many believers in social media and media wanted to believe that the actions of the disappearances have to do with religion and race. Well, it's easy for everyone to be caught up in the politics of religion and race. With that, the past Government ingratiated this opportunity to cloud everyone's judgement in the eyes of religion and race. Thereafter, the voices (of these enforced disappearances) dissipated amongst the views of the majority. Those in the realm of power whether in law enforcement or in the throes of heads of government felt threatened if the justification is directly perceived as a threat. For example, the Altantunya case was decidedly coerced in such a manner that investigations from enforcement agencies will lead to diluted justifications and those concerned are not affected. A law enforcement official evaded authorities and eloped to a country where death penalty laws are viewed as a concern. People in power have always a cause for concern if certain individuals felt their roles and profitability are awash with criminal propensities.

The view is that Amri Che Mat, Joshua and Ruth Hilmi and Pastor Raymond Koh knew the dilemma of trafficking of persons, hence, they were about to report on the issues faced by their 'new' faithful.

Fourthly, the authorities have yet to shed light on who are the Malaysians involved in the Wang Kelian incident. Thailand convicted a very senior military person that's linked to the incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's cabinet. That said, Thailand is trying to do its best to shed light on the trafficking of persons' issues.

With SUHAKAM report wanting a new investigation into the enforced disappearances of these four individuals, and with the new RCI on the Wang Kelian mass graves incident, its time we try to build a new investigative equation that can finally seek to solve these wanting problems for so many of us.

Wang Kelian and Wang Prachan Belatedly Wanting

Macaques roamed freely the extent of the surrounding forest that covered the border between Wang Kelian, Perlis and Wang Prachan, Satun. For the macaques, these monkeys don't have borders and they seem to be satisfied with the exploits on both sides of the border as humans leave a trail of food in the rubbish bins at the borders. These creatures have already formed a liking and had learned to open up the rubbish bins and looked for the contents. Disappointed, on what's available in the bins, they left a trail of thrown rubbish by the side of the bins.

Macaques foraging for food that in the rubbish bins

It's a quiet evening and I have arrived at Wang Kelian, Perlis on March 8, 2019, in a rented Perodua Axia just a while ago in Arau, Perlis. The border posts are closed at 7pm, every day. I was 18 minutes late and was assuming that perhaps there could be a cross border night market. I was mistaken. At the sight of the macaques, I was thrilled. However, on a closer observation at the border post, it looked deserted, locked and ICQS staff have gone home. There were a few Thai citizens at a covered bus stand, just outside the public toilet, and another couple further down the road sitting under an undergrowth. They looked tired, dejected from an arduous journey (in Thailand) and apparently were (patiently) waiting for some public transportation to fetch them to other localities in Malaysia.

Welcoming Sign, Wang Kelian, on the side next to it is the public toilet

Closed at 7pm daily

As I proceed to closer to the ICQS checkpoint, I noticed that the whole structure belongs to Malaysia, today. It used to be a shared facility between Malaysia and Thailand. How it functioned before was, the Southern end of the building was run by Malaysian ICQS, and the Northern end, by the Thai immigration and security. Thai immigration today have their own ICQS post and checkpoint. I am very sure that this only happened after the massacre and incident that happened just not too far away in the forests around here. This incident that was uncovered on 1 May 2015 and an additional 139 mass graves were discovered on May 24 the same year. It was the Thai authorities who discovered the murders, initially on some other homicide cases in Satun, and later, the case became delicate on their end and ended cooperating with the Malaysian authorities that found mass graves on the side of our border.

A lengthier probe and investigation led to the conviction to a very senior security figure in Bangkok and today, Malaysia is relaunching the Royal Commission Inquiry into the Wang Kelian massacre. No arrests were made on the Malaysian side. In 2018, the US State Department in its Human Trafficking Report downgraded Malaysia into the Tier 2 cluster - An undesirable cluster that includes countries that are considered violators of human trafficking laws.

It's of no surprise Thailand did their part in rooting out culprits behind the tragedy and the expose of the intricate human trafficking cartel. Hence, they wanted a new beginning, proper facilities, technologies, and more effective laws. Tourism is the number one revenue income for the country and in order to thwart tragedies such as the Wang Kelian incident, the establishment of the procedures, enhanced protocols, and the encouragement of people, travel and tourism, to upgrade a lonely facility to one that's frequented with patrons. It's a view that a lonely cross bordering checkpoint that's frequented by locals and localised traders will have lackadaisical checks and security. Smugglers and traffickers who have a recce and study these parts could enhance their strategies against those security measures. That said, land and sea borders checkpoints have always been difficult to secure because of the isolated areas. In most of the land borders, there are various ways to get across illegally and that has been identified in the other blogs in this series; for example, the Tumpat and Tak Bai crossing, even though it's across an estuarine.

Closed at 7pm, daily

This area is really a sight if it wasn't for the tragedy. It affected the border market that used to be the main attraction on both sides of the divide. Before the tragedy, the Sunday market thronged on both sides of the market but today, it's only vibrant in Wang Prachan after the Thai ICQS. The Malaysian side of the businesses looked lifeless and lacked activities in both the Duty-Free Green Earth Emporium and the 'Arked Pekan Sehari Wang Kelian' (Wang Kelian Weekday Arcade). The Arcade is basically now a defunct and empty structure.

Duty-Free Green Earth Emporium

Wang Kelian Weekday Arcade

The Arcade is massive but there's no business

Such wasteful resources

With that, on the very next day upon my return, I didn't bother to waste time on the Malaysian side. Eager to know what's on the other side I decided to prod to the immigration and beyond. Wang Kelian-Wang Prachan border only accommodates mostly travellers and traders on both sides of the divide. It's easy to cross the Malaysian side. Customs enforcement isn't visible. But four kilometres before the immigration and just after three kilometres from the T-junction between Kaki Bukit and Wang Kelian, there's an AKSEM (Agensi Kawalan Sempadan Malaysia) roadblock. Individuals and vehicles have to declare their presence, and if requested to see identifications or documents, they have to be surfaced for inspection. Nevertheless, the checks and inspections are very much minimal. An observation, I made (at the Wang Kelian immigration post) was that a few officers just sat around the building (outside) not doing anything at all, perhaps their tasks to only observe and mingle if there are any confused travellers.

After the Malaysian immigration check, Thai immigration is about 80 metres to the Thai ICQS after the Wang Kelian immigration main gate. Just before the Thai immigration, and about 15 or 20 metres after the main gate, the Duty-Free Green Earth Emporium compound is situated on the right. The gate is opened but it seemed there were no patronisers. And just after that, the Thai ICQS compound came into view with a number of travellers mingling in the area under shady trees.

A queue extended from the 'Arrival' window of the Thai ICQS. The queue consists mostly of Malaysians and travellers either travelling in groups or individuals like me. Like all Thai immigration counters, the land borders seem to process the documents much faster than those at the airports. Most Malaysians were on their way to the town of Satun for shopping at Makro. Most other travellers prefer island or beach destinations like Ko Lipe or Pak Bara. Satun is becoming quite a gem for the island and beach travellers as many of the other islands in Southern Thailand had grown congested and expensive. There are also a lot of pickup trucks like Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Hilux, and Ford Rangers commuting between Malaysia and Thailand. Most bore Thai plates and these pickups ply mostly to Malaysia to ferry sundry items and foodstuffs to Satun. Having said that, many of the foodstuffs like noodles, condiments, milk powder, etc., (at the border) do come from Malaysia especially in Satun, Songkhla, Narathiwat, and Jala.

Just After the Thai Immigration - A Spanking New Facility

Just Outside the Thai ICQS, the Border market

The Arked is defunct but the new Boundary Market of Thailand-Malaysia is seemingly thriving today

Just wondering whether the businesses in Malaysia have gone 'nolo contendere' since the mass graves incident that causes Malaysian border residents of Perlis and Kedah from having anything to do with Wang Kelian. If that's the case, the Perlis government have not been at the heels trying to reform the border economy on the Malaysian side. Pakatan Harapan should step in to revive the border market again.

Upon seeing what's happening, reviving the Wang Kelian's economy can help Malaysian and Thai residents forge better relations. As there's activity going on human traffickers will also shy from the areas. Having said that in the whole land border crossings, I have seen very little activity in Wang Kelian using 'Lorong Haram' or illegitimate land border crossings. In fact, it's quite impossible, after witnessing the steep ravines on both sides of the land border. In fact, not many travellers will drive to Wang Kelian, as a part of the journey is quite adventurous. Steep hillsides and the sharp upward road bends for 3 kilometres is not to someone's liking if one's not prepared for such an adventurous drive.

However, that wasn't the case. According to an anonymous Kaki Bukit aunty I spoke at the public toilet before I departed the immigration checkpoints, she deliberated that the main cause was the massive graves found in Wang Kelian. As many of these Kampung residents still believe in supernatural telltales, local residents will have to be brave to accommodate the tragedies and the telltales. The only businesses today, before the Wang Kelian checkpoints, are the food stalls near the checkpoint and a Caltex petrol station and a vibrant Thai food stall before proceeding up the steep granite mountain.

Despite the gloom on the Malaysian side, the Thai side is definitely thronging. Back then, about 11 or 12 years ago, Wang Prachan, was basically a sleepy hole for cross-border residents. There were only some stalls, which basically sold drinks and food stalls before the Thai immigration. Only on Sundays, did both the Perlis and Satun government allow a realistically cross border market that thronged not only at the Arked but also a Kilometre from the Wang Kelian side to the Wang Prachan side. Back then security was pretty lax on both sides and residents can cross the land border freely on Sundays to participate or purchase food, farm equipment or kitchen utensils, pots and pans at the market. But years back before the incident, Wang Prachan market did sell violent weapons like handguns. [There was someone in the past that photographed the handguns - At first thought, they were BB handguns, but they weren't. I tried to source it again on the web but it had since been removed.] After the incident, less violent weapons are still sold like combat knives, machetes and defensive torchlights. Moreover, Thai security authorities are hiking up and down the roadsides, and any irregularities by any traders can be apprehended upon selling or trafficking weapons.

Exotic gadgets sold at the market

Today, the Thai and Satun government just wanted to rid the negativity and hence, a flood of traders have set up more stalls stretching as long as about 1.2 Kilometres each side of the road. Most of the traders sell daily items like I have spoken before, but what caught my attention was that most of the foodstuffs, especially the condiments, biscuits, sweets, and junk foodstuff like chips, come from Malaysia. As such, not many Malaysians like myself, thronged the market if the individual did not just come for borderland's shopping spree. As for me, its to see the kind of wares they are selling. I saw a group of Malaysians, that seemed to be interested in combat knives and machetes. I did not ask them how they are going to bring across the border but in any case, if it's just the immigration checks no one will notice. AKSEM (further down the road after Wang Kelian) may seek to do a security check but when I approached them (on my way back after the market), I told them about visiting the border market and they did not seem to even bother to peek into the car or check the car boot. Sigh! That said, the AKSEM guys were very pleasant and nice.

The best to enjoy this sort of market is to walk both sides of the divide, talk to the stall holders either in Malay or Thai language. The Malay language in these parts are different again, they have the Kedah lingo, slang and accent, and the pronunciations are softspoken and audible. Unlike Malaysian stall traders, they tend to be more aggressive and hence, when any patronisers walk pass by their stalls they tend to advertise audibly in the Thai language. In Jala, Narathiwat, and Pattani, its less and perhaps more like the Malaysian traders, i.e., your choice, hence less influence.

Its Saturday, hence the activity picks up rather slow

This is Sunday, notice two security officials going up and down checking and mingling with the patrons

I bought a big packet of pistachio that's considered cheap. As the morning sun began to sizzle and am profusing as if I just stepped out of the shower, I decided to head back to the immigration checkpoints. Just before I returned, a few objects caught my observation; coaches on the far end of the trading stalls just after the military security checkpoint and bird cages in the middle of the road divider.

Buses or coaches from Bangkok. Most people from Central Thailand come to Wang Prachan to purchase Malaysian conditions and foodstuffs.

These buses, years back hardly come to this part of the province. Perhaps, the current Thai government find it important to develop these remote areas and provide jobs not only for the people in Satun but also people in the Deep South, particularly to steer them away from troubles. At this writing, and in my hotel room, I learned from Malaysian TV 3 Channel in the evening, that Satun town, that is, 35 Kilometres from Wang Prachan, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had exploded, Further up in Phatallung (province), bombs also went off in the city centre.

Whatever is the case the Thai authorities should not just be lackadaisical about their attitudes by just increasing security, military and law enforcement officials. It's not enough. Mara Patani was disgusted by the fact that one of the most senior Thai negotiators was not present at the negotiation in Kuala Lumpur.  Gen Udomchai Thammasaroraj refusal to meet with Mara Patani leader Encik Dulloh did not fare well for the Deep South problems. Already, Barisan Nasional Revolusi (BRN) refuses any discussions with the current Thai government but its opportunistic for Udomchai to straighten some issues like for example, disarmament, demilitarisation, and the giving up of weapons and I think perhaps the Thai general wasn't interested and only keen to meet the ex-IGP YB Tuan Rahim Noor.  Well, since the collapse of the talks, it seems one of these rebel groups decided to notch up their disappointment by expanding their militaristic activities into Satun and Phatallung. Thailand is already beguiled by the latest tragic episodes of the Chinese tourists shying away from Thailand as a form of boycott. Coupled with these terrorist threats, these are not going to jive well. The land of smiles will be smiling but the current troubles may only jeopardise those happy smiles. Satun is a new gem for Thailand because of Ko Lipe, the surrounding isles and Pak Bara.

Red-Whiskered Bulbul or Crested Bulbul

The Crested Bulbul is stressed, thus flustering in the cage as I was taking its picture

This picture was taken on Saturday, hence the bird cages were not visible then. Only the security checkpoint. Notice that I didn't include the post because there were officers manning the checkpoint.

Red-Whiskered Bulbuls (RWB)loved to chirp in the notes of happiness. Security officials parading the roads may seem relaxed, but the terror issues, the human trafficking issues, and other security issues may crop up sporadically. Will the Deep South ever enjoy a comprehensive peaceful resonance, it's only the residents of Malaysian - Thailand border willing to give it a chance.

Just one quick note about the caged RWB. Southern Thailand is a treasure of resources for agriculture, natural resources and tourism. Hence, many people in the Deep South has developed a liking for the bird-song contest. Many birds that chirp wonderfully well especially like RWBs, the Myrnas, Oriental-Magpie Robin, etc., are captured and trained for the bird-singing contest. Despite its not illegal, still, this sort of action extended appreciation towards the enslavement and poaching of other animals as well. Pangolins and various anteater species are exotic aphrodisiac dishes in countries like China. There were instances in the past where Thai poachers came into Malaysian jungles to trap exotic species of animals like sun bears and tigers. In many parts of Asia and in their wet markets, there are certain animals either sold for food or for pets. It's difficult at times to educate them, firstly, it's a cultural activity, and secondly, they will tell you that they don't hunt or capture these animals for pleasure but for a purpose. Sometimes the question is about priorities. Only when the animal is endangered, then the full force of the law is there to curb the smuggling and trafficking. Otherwise, it's business as usual. Traders do get angry when these animals' pictures are taken or videoed. They do know about the reasons behind their pictures or videos. Most of these traders rely on hunted and captured wildlife as a source of income. Their actions can be deemed deplorable but its always difficult to ascertain a morality to these issues, as long as it's not a greedy income. However, then again these traders used such exotic animals to treat us marketers into believing their word. There are still many ways to do trading, but they want these animals as a form of attraction and distraction to many interested patrons that eventually being tricked to make a purchase.

Wang Kelian-Wang Prachan border is a step in the right direction. There're more improvements to be ascertained especially if the idea is to push for a better and more livelier border. Opportunities abound and in the next few years, Satun will offer a new direction for the other Deep South provinces to follow. On the Thai side, it will be better, no doubt. On the Malaysian side, I am still unsure what's the ideals for the Perlis government and PH to improve this area, only time will tell.

One Last Note:

One of the most important facts about this trip had me forgotten to relate in this article is how foreigners used the Wang Kelian border post to extend their stay in Thailand. The province of Satun has given many foreigners the opportunity to experience the sand, the sun, the sea, and the islands. One particular island here in Satun is Ko Lipe. The upturn and influx of foreigners are unbearably a fortune for the province. Because Satun is predominantly a Muslim province, the service sector that serves the entertainment industry prevents Muslims from engaging in the industry. Bars are a no-go for pious and religious Muslims and the massage parlours that spell close proximity with the opposite sex is also a prohibition. Food industries that thrived on non-Halal ingredients also become a bane for the local residents to work in this industry. Hence, Muslims only can provide information on tourism packages, managing accommodations in hostels or hotels or running errands and transportation services. As with many provinces in Thailand, most of the entertainment service industries have employees sourced from Northern and Northeastern provinces in Thailand. Satun has its share of troubles in the past, and most Thais that come from the North have a biased view about the Southern Muslims. The reason being the violence that's deeply rooted in the 'Deep South'. Hence non-Muslim employers in the entertainment and service industry have a dilemma. The only strategy, source foreign workers from the Mekong basin, and in this case, Laos. Laos has always been at the heart of Thailand and the main reason is that the whole of Laos was once part of the Siamese nation, historically. Many Thais still have suspicions with Burma (Myanmar) and Cambodia.

So what has Laos and Western foreigners had anything to do with Wang Kelian?

Well, the immigration conditions for Thailand in the last 2 years have changed drastically. One of the things is that any foreigners in Thailand that have their passport renewed after the 2nd time, they can no longer stay in Thailand. Foreigners have to go to a nearby ASEAN nation and supposedly stay there for a few days. But recently, the procedures changed again in Thailand as after the Chinese debacle and violence that flared up in social media have angered many Chinese. The Chinese boycotted Thailand. In order to thwart the dwindling influx of Chinese tourists, Thai immigration allows foreigners to just obtain proof of 'exit' from the country. It DOES NOT matter when they returned.

So what happened at Wang Kelian on weekends is that many of the foreigners (including Laotians) exited Wang Prachan, Satun, Thailand, and walk about 150 meters to the Wang Kelian immigration. They obtain their Malaysian chops and then 'exited' Malaysia on the next immigration window. Once done, they walked back into Thailand and re-chop their passport as if anew.

Well, basically, Malaysia should care about this. Firstly, these people never entered Malaysia and they only make use of the immigration post. And secondly, this gives false positives and figures to our tourism statistics that these people actually visited Malaysia and do good to our economy. What's to be needed is the fact that there's a need to charge some nominal fee, and they have to pay in ringgit or US dollars. This will alleviate our tourism figures and statistics and generate a sizeable income for our country.

Troubles in Southern Thailand - A Collection As At 22 June 2018

This section of the blog will provide a gathering of articles from troubled situations in Southern Thailand. Initially, I didn't want to collect these articles but on March 11, 2019, have exacerbated to other provinces in Southern Thailand. Most of the terrorist bombings occur in the provinces of Jala, Narathiwat and Pattani. But on March 2019, explosions have caught the authorities off guard in Satun and Phattalung provinces. The discussions that are facilitated by Malaysian authorities for the Thai rebels and the Thai government was called off because some rebel factions are disagreeable with the conditions put forth by the Thai Government.

To gather what's being transpired, its best to collect these articles facilitated by both Malaysian and Thai media. However, I think since most of the situations happened in Thailand, the Thai media will be more reciprocative as the information gathered in Malaysia is for the consumption of those will be travelling or working or doing business in Thailand.

Funneling Surveillance: Horizontal & Vertical

In the late 18th century, Jeremy Bentham, a philosopher and social theorist, coined the term, 'panopticon'. The 'panopticon' concept is actually an architectural marvel concept built purposely to monitor inmates (intensively) in a penal setting. It incorporates into it special viewing glasses (that seemingly 'magnifies' activities) on each of the entrances and/or doors of the building (on each level) and a circular rotunda or command centre for each floor where the authorities or officers were stationed inside. The idea is to allow penal or prison officers to have viewed or line of sight in (a 360^o format) on what is transpired within the confines of each cell. Bentham was troubled by the fact that many prisoners were unfairly handled, and prison officers got into trouble from mishaps either trying to resolve unforeseen circumstances or unnecessarily obliging too much lethal force that resulted in the deaths of prisoners and/or prison officers in the ensuing engagement. With 'panopticon', the officer or officers can use that knowledge to evaluate and anticipate the needed objectives require to safely end its violent cause and nature (Bentham, 1787/1995; Foucault, 1975).

Of course, in the late 18^th century, such technology, especially the optics, would hardly ever be possible. Nevertheless, Bentham’s fantasy and prescribed needs wanted an institution that can possibly fathom real criminal treatment and justice in accordance with the rule of law, and with that, effective watchmen, prison or penal officers (Foucault, 1975).

The Panopticon – Pics Dchan Archive

Benthamian's Future Sights 

Bentham’s vision was not realized until the latter half of the 20^th century where penal institutions around the the world began to station (on each floor) the control centre and command post in the middle of each floors. The purpose is to have a circular 360^o line of sight of all the surrounding cells. Additionally, the panopticon also engages around-the-clock surveillance. This utilitarian philosophical concept embodies humanism in terms of Benthamian thought, hence a righteous manner of punishments and sanctions (Foucault, 1975; Galič, Timan, and Koops, March 2017).

Some academicians, professionals, and authorities are nonchalant and feel that the 'panopticon' concept breaches privacy and rights. They are being critical because there are remnants in law enforcement society where technology is not being utilized as a way to enhance work efficiency, and/or aiding technology to bring resolution to conflicts in a peaceful manner, but rather, perverting equipment or technology to their own ends of how they are to be used (Sheridan, 2016; Galič, Timan, and Koops, 2017). On the other hand, technologies may malfunction, and hence, accidents occurred. Nevertheless, Bentham's vision of the panopticon has expanded multiple folds on multiple fronts. 

Today, the two most noticeable technologies that are perhaps easily noticeable are the closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) and the access controls. In the 21^st century, however, critics of surveillance have now focused their attention on the flow and control of information (Caluya, 2010).

CCTV Surveillance Warnings that the Area is Being Watched!!!! – Pics Dchan Archive

In one word, the panopticon is surveillance. Not just surveillance, but intense surveillance. Today, surveillance is not just about CCTVs but more importantly, information, and how it is perceived and evaluated. Information gathered in this way is crucial because authorities then can discover and get the facts needed to resolve each difficult issue (Sheridan, 2016). Information no matter how difficult can help us piece together puzzles into one holistic picture for our understanding. From East Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) to the edge of space, and finding a needle in a haystack, it’s all about gathering information. The question is how we gather this information that allows authorities to evaluate the necessity as a threat or just plain spam. There’s so much junk and spam that authorities have only that much attention span to evaluate them all (Caluya, 2010).

Today, in Malaysia, surveillance has progressed, especially after the debacle of MH 370, the Sulu incursion, the various threats from the Islamic State or DAESH, other national security issues, espionage, trading of national secrets, etc. There’s so much information required to be processed and evaluated, and earlier, this essay mentioned the issue of junk and spam information in a sea of everything. Precision requires finesse and fine-tuning and the only way to proceed is utilizing technology that’s able to sieve and taper them into a holistic factual picture. This essay will focus on surveillance and the various technologies available in the market or in the making of it. The primary of surveillance discuss in this paper is one fold, that is, to focus on the border enforcement and how technologies and concept can provide a foothold inefficiently countering threats, resolving violence, and offer better deterrence and surveillance.

The Forward Operating Base (FOB) & The Wall

The previous Prime Minister (of Malaysia) Najib’s the administration was bent on building a wall between the Thai and Malaysian borders and using Forward Operating Base (FOB) to effectively securing the Sabah Eastern board. The idea behind the FOBs is using abandoned ex-PETRONAS oil rig platforms that can be anchored or secured off the coastal areas (malaymail.com, 2015, October 12^th). These platforms are then used to berth MMEA or Naval watercraft and perhaps flying vehicles (like helicopters) to head off further into the Sulu Sea or just off the permitted territorial seas of the Philippines. The President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte permitted neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia to conduct ‘hot pursuit’ activities by their respective security forces; and hence, these crafts can generally, head off into Philippine’s waters to chase after pirates, perpetrators, and kidnappers (Anis and Kaos, Jr, thestaronline.com, 2016, November 11^th).

Security Forward Operating Base Ocean/Sea Rigs – Pics Dchan Archive

Unpredictable natural disasters like strong gales, typhoons, electrical storms, floods, earthquakes, and even mudslides can either damned the walls or brittle the fences in the long run. Hence, it’s perhaps not ideal unless the walls are constructed like medieval castles.

Traders’ angst is perhaps not the only complaints. Many Southern Malay Thais and Northern Malays in Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah, and Perak have relatives living along the Malaysian-Thai border. These people are peaceful and they only want their livelihoods. Parts of Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, and Perlis were part of a more delicate statehood that was drawn and separated by the then British Colonials and Siamese Kings. After the Second World War and Malayan independence, these issues were never addressed properly, especially in terms of cross border relationships, race, and religion. Predominantly the Deep South of Thailand is predominantly Malay and many of them do not converse the Thai language. Only a couple of decades ago, the province of Songkhla decided to be more Siamese (predominantly, the Deep South’s ethnic groups still refer Thais as Siamese) rather than in favour of Malay influence. But then again perhaps, more Malays in Songkhla have migrated to Pattani, Narathiwat, and Yala, or even to Malaysia, or other foreign countries with less discrimination. There are other reasons as well. Nevertheless, there are still four districts in Southern Songkhla province (close to Pattani Province) where the Thai-Malays still hold on to their language and culture (Engvall and Andersson, 2014, p.1; Perkasa, 2010, pp. 1-3). [For a more fruitful understanding of these relationships, a section on Northern Malayan history will be posted].

A Coach Filled with Passengers from Hatyai, Thailand Going to Malaysia – Pics Dchan Archive

A Coach Dropping Malaysian Tourists (on Weekends) at Danok, Songkhla, Thailand Immigration Queue

Pics  Dchan Archive

The FOB concept and building a wall are decisively temporarily tactful, and offer temporary solutions to deter perpetrators. Certainly costly to build and maintenance costs can be largely illogical. Additionally, they lack the pertinence for an incisive and intensive solution for surveillance. In the long run, perpetrators and criminals can wittingly still beat the system after learning its weaknesses and frailties.

Right now, even before the walls and fences are built, despite the various ICQ checkpoints, basically, they serve only as ‘civilizing friendship’ borders as ASEAN neighbours, but in reality, there are illegal lanes (‘lorong haram’ or ‘lorong tikus’ (rat lanes)) operated by Thai runners ferrying their countrymen avoiding these checkpoints. On the weekends, these illegal lanes serve weekend marketers who just want to hop across without any immigration formalities.

The Egyptians and Israelis have walls on their borders, and yet thousands of Arabs manage to beat the wall by building tunnels and crossing beneath (al-Mughrabi, Reuters, 2009, April 28^th). It had come to such embarrassment that even Katyusha rockets and launchers can basically be transported via these tunnels. What’s interesting here is that initially, the Egyptians and Israelis did not have any idea where these tunnels are located! (Issacharoff, timesofisrale.com, 2015, July 20^th). In the the end, the Israelis have to develop another technology to look for underground tunnels and eventually taking them out with precision bombs that do not destroy the environments and/or create sinkholes in the Southern Israeli neighbourhoods or the Israeli kibbutz. The wall and fence create such mistrust between the Arabs and Israelis that they become cruel implements and an objective to actually stop desperate Palestinians from getting from Gaza and reaching the West Bank, either for employment and/or seeking their loved ones and relatives.

A Fence to Separate Israel and Gaza 
- Pics Dchan Archive

A Part of the American Border Wall with Mexico – Pics Dchan Archive

Egyptian-Israeli Border Fence

– Pics Dchan Archive

If Malaysia do build the wall and fence at the Thai-Malaysian border, it only will burden both the border Malaysians and Thais. It will also destroy the so-called, Malaysian – Thailand Special Border Economic Zone (which is part of a broader initiative under the Indonesia – Malaysia – Thailand Growth Triangle Zone that runs from the borders of Satun – Perlis, Songkhla – Perlis and Kedah, Yala – Perak, and Narathiwat – Kelantan and connecting Indonesia from Banda Aceh to Palembang, Sumatra). In these states and provinces of Malaysia and Thailand, there are about 8.8 million people (Lord and Tantrongjita, 2016). Despite Malaysia account for 65% of the population in these border regions, restricting border movements can delay trading practices and also encourage traders to opt for other solutions that are slightly less of a hassle and could be wantonly illegal. Traders will no longer want to ply their trade across borders because they require time and energy to cross properly allocated checkpoints. Many have to make their way earlier to avoid the mad rush and traffic that will eventually swell and choke at the border checkpoints. Hence, if the implementations sought to seek better technology to sieve out threats, criminal activities, and deter those from using overland routes, then it has to be done in a very logically sound way that does not in any way restrict safe and sound passages for hauliers, border business traders, cross border students, and those that have close relations with their families on both sides of the divide.

Right now, it’s already a burden to logistical traffic that plies the trade between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Bangkok. Long lines of traffic are seen at the Singapore Causeway, no matter the time of the day. At Bukit Kayu Hitam and Danok checkpoints, it's undeniably terrible and burdensome, even for a lone traveller, on public holidays or even on days when logistical traffic gets jammed up at the borders. Border overland users and travellers offing to have an adventure will become irate at the burdensome traffic and will undoubtedly make them stay away from cross-border trading activities, in these regions. It’s no longer profitable with the time wasted and perhaps their goods and wares get heated up under the hot sun and spoilt. It has come to the attention that some haulier providers have shifted to Thailand by having goods carted from Phuket Port (from vessels coming from the West – Europe, India, Middle East, etc.) and transported via land arriving at Surat Thani Port to be carted to awaiting vessels that will further transport the goods and materials to Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia (Asian Development Bank, 2012, p.5). One such company that has been doing this for the last few years is a Malaysian company called Tiong Nam Logistics. Tiong Nam Logistics have basically secured logistical feasibilities for Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand in the South (Zainul, 2018, March 18^th, thestaronline.com-Business News).

ASEAN wanted to have a formidable dream of a single ASEAN Community with fewer restrictions and possibly controls that can be virtually monitored and/or profiled virtually or at a distance by 2025. In the Mekong Region, China has basically penetrated its mantra of self-serving in the region, building and constructing infrastructure in roads, rail networks, telecommunications, and hydroelectric dams. China is visioning a world of logistical efficiency that allows trade to flow like a gentle stream (Bosu, 2017, May 22^nd, China.org.cn)

Night Time @ Su'ngei Kolok Thailand ICQ Exiting Thailand and Going to Malaysia – Pics Dchan Archive

The idea behind China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or One Belt One Road philosophy is to link China to the world in the shortest possible time avoiding expensive flight charges and dangerously high seas. Despite China will ensure hauling goods via approved logistical networks plying structured roadways (highways), rail networks, and sea lanes that connect cities in an efficacy manner, nevertheless, albeit the Chinese government will want it done properly, and in accordance to procedures; many times hauliers and truckers refuse to comply legally (Rowedder, March 2018, p.1391). These people, on the side-end of the business, will switch to smuggling and avoiding taxations of different contrabands from drugs to dead exotic species of wildlife. Cross border smuggling at the Malaysian – Thai border, most common commodities are sugar, cooking oil and Malaysian subsidized petroleum (Tagliacozzo, 2001, pp. 254-274). However, on the high seas, the poaching of Malaysian fisheries and marine aquatic plants and organisms are common as our stocks near our coastal waters still have marine live stocks (Sea Management Resources Sdn. Bhd., 2008). Of course, tragedy evokes sensibilities when serious issues like drug trafficking, kidnapping, and trafficking of human beings and organs become issues.

KART ASIA Existing Logistical Routes

- Courtesy from KART ASIA

A Chinese Truck from China at Padangbesa, Songkhla, Thailand – Pics Dchan Archive

The wall is not going to stop human trafficking and smuggling. Desperate agents for these undesirable activities will survey, do their studies, and become better informed on the loopholes and weaknesses. In a report produced by Human Rights Watch, it's determined most of the human trafficking in Peninsula Malaysia comes from the Andaman Sea and into the swampy, secluded, and forestry areas of Satun Province (in Thailand) and Perlis (HRW, 2017). Majority of the mass graves found were also in these border areas. The border checkpoint at Wang Kelian, Perlis is undoubtedly isolated and it only functions during the daytime and closes before 2000 Hours. From the Wang Kelian checkpoint, the closest civilization, Kaki Bukit, is about 8.2 KM away. To access Kaki Bukit, Perlis, the only visible road is via a steep and sharp winding ridge that crisscrosses parts of the limestone, Nakawan Range. No decent human being will ever fathom such a feat in the nearby secluded jungle terrain that’s swampy, muddy, mosquito-infested, wild animals, and inaccessible. The only ones desperate enough to make such a feat are illegal immigrants looking for economic opportunities, immigrants without formal documentations that are duped by agents for a fee, refugees, and human traffickers.

An Illegal Tunnel Beneath the Border of Gaza and Israel. Israel Destroyed This Tunnel A Few Years Ago

– Pics Dchan Archive

Earlier in this essay, it describes the credibility of the FOBs in the ESSCOM region of Sabah. FOBs require manpower to be stationed, 24/7. Those manning the bases have to have the courage not only of stealthy perpetrators attacking their posts but bad weather as well. The weather can be very unpredictable, and the personnel who are station at these bases have to bear and ride out weather – no matter how unpleasant the experience can be. The worst scenario is when the storm becomes so unbearable that the rigs become overburdened, the loss of lives from drowning, and loss of equipment like vessels, watercraft, and aircraft. In 1989, 91 crews of the Seacrest Drillship perished under Typhoon Gay that produced 40ft waves in the South China Sea. Seacrest Drillship is an American-Thai oil and gas drilling platform based out of Songkhla province. During the Typhoon activity, the Drillship was securely anchored to the seafloor but the massive burst of the waves just capsized the whole Seacrest Drillship bringing with it 91 crews (Energy Global News – the Quest for Energy, 2018).

Apart from the weather issue, activities on the rigs require basic needs like food and water to be constantly replenished. The service of machines, communication equipment, weapons, and ammunition must be regularly maintained to ensure working order as the salt-air environment easily corrodes and/or damages equipment. Fuel has to be constantly replenished, as well, for outward surveillance and patrolling activities. Moreover, fuel cannot be stored in large quantities as it poses safety concerns and the space allowed to store the amount of fuel. As such, vessels, watercrafts, and aircraft have to return to the mainland for maintenance and refuelling, thus making the routine rather insurmountable and not economical.

Surveillance in this sense will rather become more and more burdensome, less precise, and the focus gradually diminished because of the laborious effort. Support is at best tiresome and strategically inconclusive, to come in at the right moments.  Jeremy Bentham did not envision his 'panopticon' to be a tireless, incapable concept, he wanted precision and intelligence. That said, the new world surveillance capabilities have to be more precise and accurate in areas of documentation, detection, and even defeating capabilities.

Geometric 3-Way Conal Surveillance

Borrowing and utilizing the concept, ideals and the methodologies of Pierre L’Enfant, he came out with urban design, topographic landscape, and architecture in a the geometric concept for Washington D. C. (Mann, 2006). Like Bentham, L’Enfant’s design is precisely a surveillance model in the concept of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). The onus here is to secure the certain areas deemed restricted like the White House, the State Capitol, Congress, U.S. Government Departments, etc. Despite L’Enfant’s concept and design visionalized crime prevention for the ages, it somehow lacked the impetus to proactively surveil, scan, or monitor for threats. Nevertheless, the reason it’s CPTED and the main purpose is to deter threats ‘passively’. Just think of this idea like a road hump, and when cars approach the hump, they are required to reduce speed, slow down and move gently over the road hump to prevent damages to the cars’ suspension.

Overland borders require active surveillance to monitor for oncoming threats and safety issues. To not refute L’Enfant’s concept, it’s more ideal we think of emission. With this emission, the projection will be cone-shaped. Imagine interstellar emission in the universe for some 150 pulsars (Rankin, 1993). This cone-shaped emission presented the observations of interstellar activities of the pulsars.

As surveillance emits from the heavens, vertically, and emits on the surface, horizontally, in open land and/or seascapes, this emission is thus cone-shaped. Cone-shaping’s emission is a physical relay by security surveillance equipment that’s coming from an aircraft, vehicle, and/or vessel that projects a scanning cone-shape design to capture images and/or detect physical objects or a certain programmed organic shape that resembles human figures via heat, microwave, or radio signatures to a certain area. To commit successful detection surveillance, a 3-way conal surveillance will have to be in place. As a result, the order to integrate all available security surveillance technologies, into two conceptual formats: A) The vertical funnelling surveillance; and B) The horizontal funnelling surveillance. Vertical funnelling will be the constant onset of real-time surveillance. Once the threat is detected, immediately horizontal surveillance will follow suit to detect other threats. In order to understand this vertical and horizontal surveillance, it’s imperative to examine each concept separately.

Design Dchan Archive

A)     Vertical Cone - Camera Surveillance from the Heavens

Vertical (Cone) funnelling forms a formidable format for top-to-bottom surveillance. Its feasibility is measured from above or below the clouds straddling either beyond or above the stratosphere. Only a flying craft can detect effectively with this feasibility. The best option for this sort of aircraft is a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) (Shakhatreh et. al., 2018) that’s capable to stay up in the clouds for at least more than 12 hours. Blimps (airships) (Miller et. al., 2014) are also feasible flying craft that require less fossil energy or no fossil energy at all. Another newly marvel intervention from the stratosphere is the stratospheric satellite or stratolite (d’Oliveira et. al., 2016); balloons built for the stratosphere – this method is rather cheap and easily maintainable (Izet-Unsalan et. al., 2011); and stratospheric airship (Thales, 2018). The weather may cause turbulence and instability below the troposphere and stratosphere, hence, these aircraft don’t have problems with weather issues. However, the lens of monitoring cameras and sensors must be capable of penetrating through the thick clouds. But then again, in this modern age height is no longer the disadvantage. High powered optimum capacity concave and convex lenses with built-in sensors (that’s infrared capable or sending out electromagnetic waves called LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)) (Shakhatreh et. al., 2018), a memory storage that can accommodate ions data of information, and the flying craft’s immediate recognition algorithms that prompt horizontal to respond or activate horizontal radars automatically without human intervention but nonetheless prompt security officials for immediate recce and intervention. Despite the wonders vertical or cone funnelling, vertical funnelling in this aspect is advanced knowledge and 'trusted' information.

In order to understand correctly, the mathematical perception of the formula of a cone is calculated in volume (V) and as such:

V = ⅓πr²h (Khan Academy, n.d.). V only represents one volume of the cone. Hence, this formula only represents 1 conal surveillance cone. There are two more horizontal cones or radar detection (from the East and West). Therefore, in order to comply with image or radar recording, signalling, or capturing standards, the equation has thus to be: V = (⅓πr²h) x 3. Therefore, V = πr²h, and suddenly the cone formula becomes a cylindrical formula. The reason it becomes a cylindrical formula is that a cone’s volume is a third of the volume of the cylinder. In order to understand the attributes of the volume whether it's vertical or horizontal, it’s important to understand each aspect of the cone.

Nevertheless, the attributes of conal surveillance volumetric perceptions are just mathematical observations. The other attribute that’s also a mathematical imperative is understanding how camera lens operate and this is appended as follows:

Formulations – Dchan Archive

Despite the intricacies on the various understandings in terms of depth, magnification, distance in which the lens need to capture images, and zooming capabilities, can thus be applied via formulas that address capabilities. A layperson does not necessarily have to know how to calculate the effectiveness. All cameras built have certain specifications that come with it. Perhaps those in the technical areas may need to know what's the effectiveness (say) from the stratosphere (at 66,000 ft. or 20 km), or an altitude of say 20,000 ft. or 6.096 km. The reason is when buying such equipment one has to have some formidable knowledge of the effectiveness, range, clarity, ability to even measure capture and recognize images for perhaps comparisons using algorithms.

A)     Horizontal Cones - Network Radars, Multi-spectral Imaging, Radio Waves, (Big) Data Tracking, and Microwave Surveillance on the Surface

Horizontal funnelling entails monitoring by objects that are enhanced in via surveillance and control from the horizontal level. Horizontal surveillance is basically the usual patrolling reconnaissance, whether it’s with vehicle crafts or with manpower. Definitely, a laborious task and most times in war and in conflict areas its very dangerous. It’s dangerous because the line of sight and knowledge of the terrain and activities (whether it’s a territory belonging to an organic occupier) is foreign to most individuals. However, despite these disadvantages, interdiction is still required for the closure and arrest of perpetrators. Hence, without the horizontal surveillance feasibility is still incomplete and the matter unresolved.

i)                   Radar Surveillance

Radar surveillance is mostly synonymous with underwater sonar detection by submarines or surface vessels to detect enemy submarines or military vessels (Terma, 2018). Since the onset of piratical and human trafficking activities in many parts of the world, radar surveillance has become more important to detect unnamed vessels plying the high seas. Radar surveillance is not seen as a security equipment; it's also a very important safety equipment to locate vessels or people lost at sea in the event of natural disasters. Today's radar has the ability to detect vessels as far away as 25 km away.

Information and Power Point – Dchan Archive

ii)                   Multi-Spectral Imaging

Likewise, multi-spectral imaging hinge on the prospect to produce images that's either with heat signatures and/or signatures that's different from the surrounding environments (Terma, 2018). It can also give a prospective number of individuals whether inside the vehicle or vessel and perhaps their roles whether friend, foe, or hostages. Of course, cameras from the skies can also produce these images and if horizontal images can also equally confirm what's imaged in the skies, this will be an added advantage.

Mobile Vehicle Surveillance System (MVSS) Incorporating Multispectral Imaging and Radar Detections – Pics Dchan Archive

iii)                   Radio Signals

Radio signals or more specifically signals intelligence form the very basic form of communication and interaction between parties since the second world war. Today, and in the event of a disaster, radio signals can be tracked to the original location. This is called General Positioning System (GPS). The signals of GPS today is so important that even we, road users, use them to track the location and place where we are at and how we are supposed to get there. However, for other navigation uses, this is more complex and it serves to locate the particular vehicle or vessel at a distance. Without radar, aircrafts, vehicles, and vessels are blind and this can be very dangerous because the radar determines when a craft can berth or land. The black box of any aircraft emits radio signals so that rescuers can track it to the location of the incident.

An Unmarked Policing Van in New York City with Surveilling Equipment Attached to It's Top – Pics Dchan Archive

Microwave sensors – Pics Dchan Archive

The Extended with the other accessories

 – Pics Dchan Archive

Hybrid sensors incorporating both radio-microwave optics

 iv)                   Big Data

Data tracking, can be data either sent or received via personal computer systems, mobile, satellite phones, or radio signals sent from electronic equipment. Data tracking are two modes, firstly, the mode can be done via systems auditing. Secondly, from a standpoint of systems auditing, it can be further enhanced to become an artificial intelligence (AI) tracking mode. Auditing as we know it provides the kind of security for the check and balance, we require. Like for example, we can track via security access controls who passes the access on a particular entrance and we can also check when this person enters or leave. However, if there are way too many people to check like for example a main entrance in a shopping mall, we need a computer programme (interface) to track, search, and provide parameters to sieve out all the rest of the people (entering or exiting the entrance) for that required person. By and large this artificial intelligence for sieving data is not limited to just a certain software. It can be further expanded with or into other software to provide even more precise parameters to further detect the person. Hence, it provides the security audience what's being transpired and what went wrong in the event of a tragedy. It can also be a communication technology when the disaster evolves or in the midst of the event if any individual can access the equipment. Data can also be interspersed and/or even interfaced with all sorts technology – imaging, radio signals and/or waves, signatures of various sorts (like chemical, heat, or even metallic signatures). Data is so precise now that electromagnetic signatures and technology are no longer science fiction and it’s just a way to perfect them.

Microwave surveillance has yet to become a reality yet. A professor at the University of Michigan has come out with a unique way of detecting concealed weapons using microwave detection at the airports. But this technology has yet to be proven tacitly. The New York City Police Department is in the process of undergoing microwave to detect weapons and explosives from a distance of about 400 meters. How successful for these trials are still yet to be acknowledged, but definitely, right now there's technology (going to be) available soon.

As lay persons and even for non-pure-science academicians, understanding mathematical feasibilities will be too intricate and confusing. Unless we are physicists and/or engineers then perhaps its only important to understand the mathematical formulas, theories, and the functions. However, we need to know that technologies representing horizontal cones are important to capture the knowledge of: 1) Directions of the vehicles or vessels; 2) The number of vehicles or vessels on the surface; 3) The number of people aboard the vehicles or vessels - dead or alive; and lastly 4) Their firepower and threats.

(Big) data is synonymous with extremely large data sets that are analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions. For example, Mr. X, who lives in Ban Buketa, Narathiwat Province, Thailand, and every Wednesday, at 9:30am, he will be at the Bukit Bunga Customs and Immigration Quarantine (BBCIQ) before entering Jeli, Kelantan and onwards to Pasir Mas, Kelantan to sell his truckload of Tupperware. Mr. X has been doing every week for the last 8 years and it's constantly the same thing. And at 3:30pm, he will be at the BBCIQ on his way back to Thailand with about the similar load, if he did not sell anything at all because the business is bad, or his load could be lesser or smaller if the business is good. So when every time the facial recognition and behaviour algorithm will analyse his mood, friendliness, demeanour, etc., and his truck's conditions, contents, and to a certain extent cleanliness, etc. Suddenly, one day, big data alerted CIQ officers to remove him from his vehicle and requested him to report to the office for interviewing. Big data reasoned that there's a slight dent on the bumper of the vehicle, some paint were chipped off from the bumper. Additionally, Mr. X appeared impulsive, impatient, and slightly jittery. As he was waiting in the interview room, a police car arrived at the BBCIQ. BBCIQ officers were wondering about the police presence. The police believed that a Thai national and his vehicle was involved in a hit and run accident (at Pasir Mas) and they have prints from the CCTV footages of the hit and run vehicle.

Big data is today's morphing algorithms and its (today’s) very powerful, integrated systems, that more and more thinks with a human thought processes, but only that it’s knowledge is unbounded and thoroughly resourceful from end to end. Depending on the storage facilities and chip processing accelerations, the more storage, the better accommodations to adapt to storing faster chip processors for processing all and any relevant information as if the machine is a hybrid of a human brain applying neurons, conducting synapses, and transmitting information in light speed. Definitely, with such speed, time and knowledge save lives and apprehend offenders immediately. Additionally, investigations and operations conducted in this manner make many enforcement officers less stressful, and ultimately, aiding them in the eventful case closures without much incidents and dramas.

Big data is now in the creation of a ‘virtual border wall’ in the United States. A start up called Anduril is in the process of integrating sensing towers carrying cameras and sensor lasers powered by artificial intelligence algorithms to spot any person and to distinguish between human, objects, and animals in a 2-mile radius. On board of some American warships are modified and newly introduced radar surveillance systems known as ‘Sea Giraffes’ that can scan the air and surface for any seemingly threats. And recently at the University of Cambridge and India’s National Institute of Technology and Science just published a paper on using unmanned aerial surveillance to identify and profile violent individuals in crowds. Despite the project is utilizing unmanned aerial surveillance, it is by no means a project about aerial surveillance but how artificial intelligence profiles between suspicious violent behaviour and mannerisms and those that are not dangerous and violent. Finally, in Singapore, big data is now adaptable to not only use in military and law enforcements but also in sectors like welfare and happiness and how Singaporeans can move forward in a very competitive, structured, and demanding society and at the same time making Singapore enjoy their lifestyles, happiness, and raising good families.

Textron, Martin UAV V-BAT makes a transition from vertical to horizontal flight

Technological Fallacies

As mankind become more and more engross in automation and relying big data surveillance for information to solve issues on various fronts, evolving big data without audit, checks and balances can hybrid itself into sorts. Issues arise in this instance can increase unnecessary monitoring which can cause systems to crash or over enhancements that may trigger false alarms. Algorithms have to be constantly monitored by capable programmers to prevent unnecessary hacks and hybridization or program mutanization its program codes. This is not science fiction as long as artificial intelligence is built to mimic 'cognitive conditioning abilities'. Cognitive conditioning abilities is the ability teach, correct, and repair itself when it sees fit and the reason is because artificial intelligence seeks to perfect itself and become knowledgeable and resourceful to its audience. As we rely on the artificial intelligence’s ability as an invaluable piece of knowledge equipment, artificial intelligence may manipulate our (soon to be) weaknesses and we become enslaved to artificial intelligence. In the end, instead of us generating policies, it seems artificial intelligence may dictate our terms of references.

Surveillance with artificial intelligence that helps us to deter intrusions and threats is wonderful. However, when surveillance becomes unnecessarily pervasive, intrusions can be a threat to us as well as it violates our very essence or privacy. At New York’s La Guardia International Airport, patrons and passengers complained that they were being “gawked” at by ‘robots’ that are place at strategic locations to scan and profile threats. Passengers are fearful that artificial intelligence equipment are not just monitoring threats but perhaps are prying eyes to scan their naked bodies. The question is how do we draw lines to balance security and securing privacies. Perhaps policy makers need to better understand that machines can have discretion to read and scan but machines can opt to defer publishing images which are graphically insecure and violate our rights. However, machines can also be taught to enhance blurry outlines of weapons that attract either chemical, heat, or electromagnetic interferences. The public should also be educated to the fact that machines that secure our livelihoods also provide security to our privacies as well. In that sense, the why, how, and what can abstain our suspicions and thus we have no reason to be weary of their ‘spying’ abilities.

Lastly, preferably, these control stations (that have scores of monitor screens) ought to be run by professional staff that have been properly screened. A list of professional programmers is to be on standby at all times to deter and detect threats. Programmers should also conduct ‘threat drills’ to substantiate foreseeable incidents. The opportunity here is not so much of just rectifying but to understand in what way resolutions can best offer timings to end the threats and secure the facilities in the shortest possible time. Despite all what’s being said and done, there will always be evolving threats and nothing is perfect to the infinity.

Conclusion

Geometric conal surveillance is an important activity for border surveillance and especially one that includes a body of water, remote jungles and undulating landscapes. Geometric conal surveillance is two folds, vertical and horizontal. Horizontal surveillance are capable observations from the skies up to the stratosphere. Vertical opts for radio and radar surveillance that not only detect bodies but also the ability to sense threats. Surveillance can be pervasive and intrusive and the manner to minimize these issues are guiding and monitoring policies that can diminish unwanted behaviour and preserving professionalism amongst security professionals.

References

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