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Cages, watch tower and 37 graves: inside an abandoned migrant camp in Malaysia Cages, watchtower and 37 graves: inside an abandoned migrant camp in Malaysia
(35 minutes later)
Deep in the jungles of northern Malaysia, a forensic team wearing masks chipped away at the brown soil before spotting an object wrapped in white cotton shrouds normally used in Muslim burial rites.Deep in the jungles of northern Malaysia, a forensic team wearing masks chipped away at the brown soil before spotting an object wrapped in white cotton shrouds normally used in Muslim burial rites.
They dug deeper with shovels and found a body. Police had begun examining the site after finding a human jawbone with teeth hanging off nearby. Officials expect many more bodies to be unearthed.They dug deeper with shovels and found a body. Police had begun examining the site after finding a human jawbone with teeth hanging off nearby. Officials expect many more bodies to be unearthed.
It is the latest shocking development in Asia’s migrant crisis, which has exposed the plights of Rohingya Muslims from Burma who say they are fleeing persecution and of Bangladeshis escaping poverty, brought by boat to the dense forests of southern Thailand and northern Malaysia by people smugglers.It is the latest shocking development in Asia’s migrant crisis, which has exposed the plights of Rohingya Muslims from Burma who say they are fleeing persecution and of Bangladeshis escaping poverty, brought by boat to the dense forests of southern Thailand and northern Malaysia by people smugglers.
Almost 140 grave sites have been uncovered among a network of people-smuggling camps in and around Malaysia’s border town of Wang Kelian.Almost 140 grave sites have been uncovered among a network of people-smuggling camps in and around Malaysia’s border town of Wang Kelian.
One hundred metres away from the forensic team’s digging at Bukit Wang Burma was a camp that appeared to have been abandoned by smugglers only recently.One hundred metres away from the forensic team’s digging at Bukit Wang Burma was a camp that appeared to have been abandoned by smugglers only recently.
At the centre of the camp was a wooden platform that had fallen into disrepair, and a crudely built wooden enclosure wrapped in barbed wire, more like pens for wild animals than a place suitable for humans. At the centre of the camp was a wooden platform that had fallen into disrepair and a crudely built wooden enclosure wrapped in barbed wire, more like pens for wild animals than a place suitable for humans.
A watch tower loomed over the jungle camp, and in one corner there was a small, wire cage too small to stand in, hinting at the brutality meted out by the smugglers. Officials estimate that the camp – reached after a gruelling two-hour hike up a steep jungle path – could have held up to 500 people. A watchtower loomed over the jungle camp and, in one corner, there was a small, wire cage too small to stand in, hinting at the brutality meted out by the smugglers. Officials estimate that the camp – reached after a gruelling two-hour hike up a steep jungle path – could have held up to 500 people.
Clothes and mugs were spread around the camp. One pit appeared to be a cooking area littered with filthy dishes and utensils.Clothes and mugs were spread around the camp. One pit appeared to be a cooking area littered with filthy dishes and utensils.
There were 37 suspected grave sites in and around this one camp alone, according to police. Forensic teams were investigating other suspected grave sites, which they said were marked by sticks and stones.There were 37 suspected grave sites in and around this one camp alone, according to police. Forensic teams were investigating other suspected grave sites, which they said were marked by sticks and stones.
Activists have expressed shocked at the scale and sophistication of the camps uncovered in Malaysia, which dwarf those uncovered on the Thai side of the border in early May. Activists have expressed shock at the scale and sophistication of the camps uncovered in Malaysia, which dwarf those uncovered on the Thai side of the border in early May.
The discovery of the Thai camps sparked a crackdown on people-smuggling and a regional crisis as thousands of migrants heading on boats to Thailand were abandoned, with thousands coming ashore in Indonesia or Malaysia instead.The discovery of the Thai camps sparked a crackdown on people-smuggling and a regional crisis as thousands of migrants heading on boats to Thailand were abandoned, with thousands coming ashore in Indonesia or Malaysia instead.
Many Rohingya, a Muslim minority persecuted in Burma, and Bangladeshis, normally trying to escape grinding poverty in their homeland, reach the jungle camps after harrowing journeys on overcrowded boats.Many Rohingya, a Muslim minority persecuted in Burma, and Bangladeshis, normally trying to escape grinding poverty in their homeland, reach the jungle camps after harrowing journeys on overcrowded boats.
They are dumped there by people-smugglers and held in pitiful conditions until their families can pay ransoms for their release, after which they normally seek work in Malaysia, where they are quietly welcomed as a cheap source of labour.They are dumped there by people-smugglers and held in pitiful conditions until their families can pay ransoms for their release, after which they normally seek work in Malaysia, where they are quietly welcomed as a cheap source of labour.
Police have said 28 camps were discovered in Wang Kelian, apparently part of an extensive network of bases stretching over well-established routes into Thailand. Police said 28 camps were discovered in Wang Kelian, apparently part of an extensive network of bases stretching over well-established routes into Thailand.
Journalists who visited the camp on Tuesday were escorted by M16-wielding police commandos, as authorities fear smugglers could still be hiding out in nearby jungles.Journalists who visited the camp on Tuesday were escorted by M16-wielding police commandos, as authorities fear smugglers could still be hiding out in nearby jungles.
Officials in both Thailand and Malaysia have rebuffed accusations of complicity in the people-smuggling trade but rights group have long raised concerns about camps in the area. Officials in Thailand and Malaysia have rebuffed accusations of complicity in the people-smuggling trade but rights group have long raised concerns about camps in the area.
After the discoveries in Malaysia, police insist they are making renewed efforts to tackle the problem. Local officers said they were trying to track down Malaysian agents involved in taking the migrants to the border town of Wang Kelian.After the discoveries in Malaysia, police insist they are making renewed efforts to tackle the problem. Local officers said they were trying to track down Malaysian agents involved in taking the migrants to the border town of Wang Kelian.
“They are familiar with this forest and they are used to this track,” said a local police official involved in the operation.“They are familiar with this forest and they are used to this track,” said a local police official involved in the operation.
He said Malaysian agents were normally paid 50 ringgit (£9) for each migrant they brought down from the jungle. The existence of the jungle camps had been known to the police for months but they could not pinpoint the exact jungle route, the official said.He said Malaysian agents were normally paid 50 ringgit (£9) for each migrant they brought down from the jungle. The existence of the jungle camps had been known to the police for months but they could not pinpoint the exact jungle route, the official said.
In Wang Kelian there has been a surge in the numbers of weak, injured migrants appearing on the streets recently begging for food and water, as the clampdown began. In Wang Kelian, there has been a surge in the numbers of weak, injured migrants appearing on the streets begging for food and water as the clampdown began.
“They would walk into my shop, with injuries covering their hands and feet. Some were just too weak to even speak properly,” said Lyza Ibrahim, who runs a food stall. “One asked me, ‘[Is this] Malaysia?’ Then he pointed in the other direction, said ‘Thailand’ and shook his head to signal that he was not wanted there.”“They would walk into my shop, with injuries covering their hands and feet. Some were just too weak to even speak properly,” said Lyza Ibrahim, who runs a food stall. “One asked me, ‘[Is this] Malaysia?’ Then he pointed in the other direction, said ‘Thailand’ and shook his head to signal that he was not wanted there.”