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Malaysian Police Suspect That Mass Graves Are Those of Migrants Malaysian Police Suspect That Mass Graves Are Those of Migrants
(about 17 hours later)
HONG KONG — The police in Malaysia said on Monday that they had found mass graves on the country’s border with Thailand that may hold the remains of migrants who died in camps run by smugglers. HONG KONG — The police in Malaysia said on Monday that they had found mass graves on the country’s border with Thailand that may hold the remains of migrants who died in camps run by smugglers.
Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar of the Malaysian police said that more than 139 graves were discovered, some with more than one body, in an investigation that began May 11. The graves were found in 28 camps in the state of Perlis, in Malaysia’s far north.Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar of the Malaysian police said that more than 139 graves were discovered, some with more than one body, in an investigation that began May 11. The graves were found in 28 camps in the state of Perlis, in Malaysia’s far north.
The area is not far from camps in the Thai province of Songkhla, where the Thai authorities uncovered graves containing more than 30 bodies in early May.The area is not far from camps in the Thai province of Songkhla, where the Thai authorities uncovered graves containing more than 30 bodies in early May.
The latest discovery of mass graves comes amid a crisis as thousands of migrants have arrived in Malaysia and Indonesia by boat in recent weeks, and thousands more may still be at sea.The latest discovery of mass graves comes amid a crisis as thousands of migrants have arrived in Malaysia and Indonesia by boat in recent weeks, and thousands more may still be at sea.
The Malaysian authorities have not confirmed the identities of the dead, but they are believed to be Rohingya people from Myanmar, who have long faced discrimination and been deprived of basic rights, and Bangladeshis seeking work in Malaysia. The authorities have not confirmed the identities of the dead, but they are believed to be Rohingya people from Myanmar, who have long faced discrimination and been deprived of basic rights, and Bangladeshis seeking work in Malaysia.
“I am deeply concerned with graves found on Malaysian soil purportedly connected to people smuggling,” the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, said on Twitter. “We will find those responsible.”“I am deeply concerned with graves found on Malaysian soil purportedly connected to people smuggling,” the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, said on Twitter. “We will find those responsible.”
The Malaysian Home Ministry denied this month that any migrant holding camps or mass graves existed on its side of the border with Thailand.The Malaysian Home Ministry denied this month that any migrant holding camps or mass graves existed on its side of the border with Thailand.
Migration researchers say that smugglers bringing people from Myanmar and Bangladesh have often held them in camps while they demanded further payments. The migrants are often malnourished, and the smugglers beat and physically abuse them to put pressure on their family members to send money.Migration researchers say that smugglers bringing people from Myanmar and Bangladesh have often held them in camps while they demanded further payments. The migrants are often malnourished, and the smugglers beat and physically abuse them to put pressure on their family members to send money.
“When they initially get on the ship from Myanmar, they think $200 is the cost all the way to Malaysia,” said Amy Smith, an executive director of Fortify Rights, a human rights group focusing on Southeast Asia. “It’s only when you enter Thai waters and are brought to a remote island or jungle camp under armed guard” that the migrants are “told to call family members in Malaysia, call family in Myanmar.”“When they initially get on the ship from Myanmar, they think $200 is the cost all the way to Malaysia,” said Amy Smith, an executive director of Fortify Rights, a human rights group focusing on Southeast Asia. “It’s only when you enter Thai waters and are brought to a remote island or jungle camp under armed guard” that the migrants are “told to call family members in Malaysia, call family in Myanmar.”
Migrants are usually forced to pay an additional $1,000 or $2,000 before they are released from the camps, Ms. Smith said. “People are being beaten while they are on the phone to ask for more money, to put pressure on family members,” she said. “This isn’t just extortion. People’s lives are at risk.”Migrants are usually forced to pay an additional $1,000 or $2,000 before they are released from the camps, Ms. Smith said. “People are being beaten while they are on the phone to ask for more money, to put pressure on family members,” she said. “This isn’t just extortion. People’s lives are at risk.”