A number of mass graves discovered in Malaysia

Malaysia border officers check vehicles in Wang Kelian, Malaysia-Thailand border.

Malaysian authorities said police found a mass grave near Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis State bordering Songkhla province, southern Thailand.



The assurance was given by Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sunday (24/05).

"Today the police chief and deputy police chief was near the Malaysia-Thailand border to identify and verify the mass graves were discovered by VAT69 (special police unit) and PGA (civil defense forces). These tombs were believed to be associated with the activities of human trafficking involving migrants, "he said.

Local media reported a number of mass graves to 30.

Told by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, police also found the camps allegedly used to confine migrants.

"Besides, we also found the 14 camps in the border region that is believed to be used for human trafficking. We also found three smaller camps."

'Big operation'

Thousands of refugees have been rescued from the sea, including in Aceh.

Mass graves reportedly found before the weekend and there are at least 100 bodies are believed to be displaced Rohingya migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Around the beginning of this month, Thai authorities found a number of similar mass graves in southern Thailand.

Suspicion of human trafficking activities and the existence of mass graves in the state of Perlis, Malaysia, has long terendus, but the Malaysian government previously dismissed.

Two weeks ago, a member of the Malaysian Parliament from the constituency of Padang Besar, Perlis, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin together with the Secretary of the Institute of Islamic Cooperation between nations Malaysia, Mohammad Shamsuddin Damin, want to review the location of the alleged mass grave there.

"But it is not justified by the police because they said it is making large-scale operation," said Mohammad Shamsuddin Damin told BBC Indonesia, Rohmatin Bonasir.

The discovery of mass graves and camps in Malaysia occurred when Malaysia and Indonesia conduct search and rescue operations thousands of refugees and migrants were expected to remain at sea. They allegedly left by ship after the beginning of operations against human trafficking held.

Nearly 1,800 people have been rescued in Aceh and 1,107 people landed on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. They consist of Rohingya refugees fleeing from oppression and violence in Myanmar and Bangladeshi migrants seeking a better life.