Migrant Camp Survivor Believes Over 500 People Were Killed in Camps

[Jacob Maslow]

Following the discovery of a mass grave site at a former migrant camp in the Sadao district of Songkhla, an escapee reveals that he believes hundreds of people were killed in the camps.

A migrant who escaped the camp said he heard that more than 500 victims were killed at various camps along the Thai-Malaysian borders. He also heard that there were thousands of Rohingya migrants being held at camps who were waiting for jobs, or for their ransoms to arrive.

One man, Kuramia, paid Bt95,000 in ransom for his nephew Kazim. Kazim was being held captive at one of the camps, but Kuramia never saw him alive. His nephew’s body was among the 26 bodies recovered at the camp.

The camp survivor stated that he had been lured out of Myanmar six months ago when he received an offer to find him work in Malaysia. Instead of finding a new job, he was sent to the same camp as Kazim. Between 700 and 800 migrants were being held there. The survivor alleges that he saw a human trafficker, known as Arnua, beat Kazim to death.

The survivor stated that during his time there, between 17 and 20 people were killed. The victims were either clubbed or shot to death. An arrest warrant was issued for Arnua, and he was taken into custody.

-- 2015-05-05

[fgmr]

"Pol. Gen. Somyot said he was transferring the head of Satun Provincial Police, Police Major General Soontorn Chalermkiat, because of the latter's close ties to the masterminds of the Rohingya trafficking ring, who were residing in Satun."

Transfer, not suspend? What kind of close ties? Who was holding the noose while the others played? Now the US government is showing concerns I hope we do not see another face saving 'Thaiwash'?

I recall a CH 4 documentary broadcast sometime during 2012/13. The reporter visiting an island on the south coast, reputed to be a Thai Nature Reserve whose local were alleged to be in league with trafficking gangs. He discovered that certain parts of the island were "No Go" areas for the local police. Does anybody know if there was any kind of follow up by local media or Central Government?