Found mass graves suspected victims of human trafficking

Allegedly, a mass grave near the Thai-Malaysian border are ethnic Rohingya citizens of Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Alleged mass graves of victims of human trafficking have been discovered by the Malaysian police in some areas near the Thai border, said the interior minister of Malaysia, Sunday (23/08).



The interior minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the relevant authorities believe that a mass grave of victims of human trafficking, but not sure how many bodies were found.

"Everything is still under investigation," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Kuala Lumpur, as reported by Reuters news agency.

According to media reports, a mass grave believed to contain the bodies of hundreds of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Daily Utusan Malaysia reported the Malaysian police had found about 30 graves containing hundreds of bodies in two places in the northern state of Perlis, which borders Thailand.


Meanwhile, the Star newspaper website reported nearly 100 bodies were found in one grave, Friday (21/8) then.

'The number of more'

"I think it is the initial findings and the possibility of more numerous," Ahmad Zahid said when asked about the certainty of the number of mass graves were found.

Ahmad Zahid said the police also found the former camp is located in the area of ​​trade Klian Diamond and villages near the border.

"They have been there for some time. I suspect the camp has been in operation for at least five years," he said.

More than 3,000 migrants, mostly from Myanmar and Bangladesh, using wooden boats have landed in Malaysia and Indonesia, after being rejected by the Thai authorities.

A police spokesman declined to comment on these findings. He promised at a press conference on Monday.

But a police official declined to be name- -which said police and forensic experts from Kuala Lumpur has been at the location of mass graves.

"Of course I believe there are Malaysians who are involved," said Ahmad Zahid, when asked about the possibility of the involvement of local residents in the incident.

Smuggling route

The northern region of Malaysia is known as a smuggling route citizens of Myanmar, particularly the Rohingya people, and Bangladesh.

Rohingya people fleeing because they feel persecuted, while those from Bangladesh is backed matter of economic necessity.

They are also believed to use the region of southern Thailand as a route by road, and police believe it is based on the findings of mass graves discovered in the border region of Thailand this month.

Rohingya people fleeing because they feel persecuted, while those from Bangladesh is backed matter of economic necessity.

Twenty-six bodies were found in graves in Thailand's Songkhla province, not far from the border states of Perlis, Malaysia, near a camp suspected of human trafficking.

More than 3,000 migrants, mostly from Myanmar and Bangladesh, using boats have landed in Malaysia and Indonesia, after being rejected by the Thai authorities.

In May, the Malaysian authorities said they discovered a mass grave near Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis State bordering Songkhla province, southern Thailand.