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Malaysia confirms mass graves found in trafficking camps

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed the unearthing of mass graves at human trafficking detention camps in Padang Besar, a town situated in the northern state of Perlis on the border between Malaysia and Thailand, after the ministry previously denied the existence of human trafficking camps in the country.

Thai police officials measure a shallow grave in Padang Besar, Songkhla province, southern Thailand, on May 2, 2015. Photo: AP

Thai police officials measure a shallow grave in Padang Besar, Songkhla province, southern Thailand, on May 2, 2015. Photo: AP

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KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed the unearthing of mass graves at human trafficking detention camps in Padang Besar, a town situated in the northern state of Perlis on the border between Malaysia and Thailand, after the ministry previously denied the existence of human trafficking camps in the country.

Mr Zahid said that the graves, believed to be those of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis, could have been there for some time, possibly up to five years, according to The Star.

He also admitted that Malaysians might be involved in this matter.

“Malaysia as a government is not involved. But Malaysians yes. I recognise that as a fact,” he was quoted as saying in the news portal today (May 24).

The graves were discovered in several small villages at the border town last week by Malaysian authorities. The camps were abandoned by the time the officers discovered them.

Mr Zahid also said that each grave had about three or four bodies, and said that more graves could be discovered in the future.

“We don’t know how many are there. We are probably going to find more bodies,” he said.

Mr Zahid also reportedly said that he was “shocked” by the discovery.

Earlier this month, the Malaysian Home Ministry denied reports claiming the existence of holding camps and mass graves of illegal ethnic Rohingya migrants on the Malaysian side of its border with Thailand.
Its secretary-general, Alwi Ibrahim, said investigations carried out by the police found no such camps or graves in Malaysia.

The Star today reported that a mass grave believed to contain the bodies of some 100 Rohingya migrants had been found in Padang Besar.

Quoting sources, the daily said police teams from its headquarters in Bukit Aman was at the scene since Friday evening.

Earlier this month, Thai authorities began a crackdown on human trafficking and smuggling following the discovery of some mass graves, likely to be of migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The crackdown led to traffickers abandoning boats upon which they were carrying thousands of Rohingyas fleeing persecution in Myanmar and Bangladeshis, leaving the migrants stranded at sea.
Malaysia and Indonesia agreed last Wednesday to provide humanitarian assistance to the 7,000 migrants still adrift at sea, including offering temporary shelter, provided that the international community takes steps to repatriate them within a year.

Today, Mr Zahid challenged the opposition-led Penang state government to prove its human rights credentials by sheltering the migrants.

“We want to see the sincerity of the Penang government, led by DAP that are partners with PKR and PAS, that claims to champion human rights and is always asking the government to adopt humanitarian policies,” Mr Zahid was quoted as saying by The Star today, referring to the opposition coalition allies Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS).

Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had insisted that Putrajaya place the refugees in land owned by the federal government, citing lack of space in Penang Island and its mainland.

Mr Lim earlier said that there were some 50,000 Rohingyas in Penang since the last six years and that state land could not be used to house them.

Lawyers For Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen also hit back at Mr Zahid’s comments, saying that issues relating to migrants and refugees come under the federal government and its agencies.

“Unless, Putrajaya and Zahid want to pass over their authority to the state government,” Mr Paulsen said.

However, he agreed with the government rhetoric that the responsibility of providing shelter to the refugees pending a final solution should be shared by the international community.

More than 1.3 million Rohingya – viewed by the United Nations as one of the world’s most persecuted minorities – live in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where the government regards them as illegal migrants from Bangladesh and do not recognise them as citizens. AGENCIES

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