Mass Grave Site Discovered in Songkhla

[Jacob Maslow]

A mass grave site was unearthed in Songkhla on Friday at what is believed to be a human trafficker camp. Over 30 bodies were discovered in shallow graves near the Malaysian border. The national police chief says 20 more graves could still be discovered.

Somyot Pumpunmuang, police general, stated that he received reports from the provincial police in Songkhla about 50 graves found in a remote camp deep in the jungle of tambon Padang Besar.

Rohingya Muslim refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar are believed to be among the dead. Many starved to death, while others died of disease while awaiting ransom payments. Police believe the refugees were waiting to be smuggled into Malaysia by a trafficking gang that included nationals form Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Some bodies were buried in shallow graves, while others were merely covered with blankets and clothing at a shelter. Thus far, 32 graves have been uncovered and four bodies have been sent to the hospital for autopsies. Two more bodies were left out to rot above ground.

All of the bodies were decayed, and one single man survived. The Bangladesh national was sent to a hospital for treatment. Although he is extremely emaciated, he is in stable condition.

The corpses were found 50 minutes up a hill and had to be carried out because vehicles could not reach the site.

-- 2015-05-03