Rohingya migrants raped at Thai-Malaysia border camps: report

[webfact]

Rohingya migrants raped at Thai-Malaysia border camps: report
AFP

BANGKOK: -- Muslim Rohingya women who were held at human-trafficking camps in Thailand and Malaysia were subjected to gang rapes by their captors, assaults that left at least two of them pregnant, a Malaysian media report said.

Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency quoted a Rohingya survivor of the camps, Nur Khaidha Abdul Shukur, as saying young women would be taken away nightly from the jungle post where she was held near Padang Besar in Thailand.

She passed through the camp last year, according to the report released late Monday.

"Every night, two or three young and pretty Rohingya women were taken out from the detention pens by the guards to a clandestine place," she was quoted saying.

"They would be gang raped by the guards. Two young women at the camp became pregnant after the gang rape."

The report also quoted her husband Nurul Amin Nobi Hussein saying he witnessed similar crimes taking place at nearby camps on the Malaysian side of the border.

The discovery last month of human-trafficking camps -- and scores of nearby graves -- first in Thailand and then over the border in Malaysia has caused shock and revulsion in Southeast Asia.

Seven camps were uncovered in Thailand beginning in early May and 33 bodies found in mass graves.

In late May, Malaysian police announced they had found 28 camps on their side of the border and 139 graves, which are still being exhumed.

The camps are believed to have been used by people-smuggling syndicates who move large numbers of impoverished Rohingya out of Myanmar, where they face systematic repression, with most heading for Malaysia.

Speaking from the northern Malaysian town of Alor Setarm, Nur Khaidha told Bernama that she entered the country illegally late last year after paying the smugglers to release her from the camp.

She said women sometimes were taken away by guards for several days to be used as sex slaves.

Her husband, who said he transited the Malaysian camps earlier in 2014, told Bernama the same occurred there.

"In the night, several of the guards would go to the pens housing the women and take them to a nearby place," he said.

"We heard the shrieks and cries of the women because the place they raped them was very close to our pens, but as the incidents were at night, we could not see what was happening."

AFP was not immediately able to confirm the claims with authorities.

Thai police have arrested nearly 50 people, including some local officials, since launching a crackdown in early May.

Malaysia has said 12 of its police officers are among those being investigated for possible involvement in the camps on its side.

The Thai crackdown threw the human flow into disarray, causing a humanitarian crisis by trapping thousands of starving migrants on boats at sea.

US Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard, who is on a tour through the region to address the migrant issue, told reporters late Monday that she had met some women boat people now in Malaysia and many had endured harrowing experiences.

"It was very clear to me... they had gone through terrible, terrible experiences. They are not in good shape," she said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2015-06-02

[EnzoRippo]

"The discovery last month of human-trafficking camps -- and scores of nearby graves --..... has caused shock and revulsion in Southeast Asia."

is a misquote

real quote is

The discovery last month of human-trafficking camps -- and scores of nearby graves -- .... has caused shock and revulsion every where but NOT in Southeast Asia.

[ChrisY1]

The most despicable and inhuman trade in humans.....the report of rapes is completely expected and the people behind this disgusting issue must be bought to justice.

Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar should be thoroughly ashamed that they have practically endorsed this trade that has continued for so long without any intervention whatsoever of any of the countries authorities....and as we all know, these authorities have been complicit all the time.

A shame on SE Asia!

[Mr Somtam]

"The discovery last month of human-trafficking camps -- and scores of nearby graves --..... has caused shock and revulsion in Southeast Asia."

is a misquote

real quote is

The discovery last month of human-trafficking camps -- and scores of nearby graves -- .... has caused shock and revulsion every where but NOT in Southeast Asia.

No, the quote is right, the DISCOVERY shocked them, their business is gone... Sad.

[Borzandy]

I am sure that rapists were not Thais.

[Lupatria]

If the discoveries go on like this they will run out of Burmese to blame

[jinjin]

This report is not new to me, cause I have seen a news report a few years back by the NGO's helping the Rohingya ppl in malaysia. They have informed the Malaysian Authority about this problem 6years ago. But the Malaysian Authority said they found nothing when they check.

Why?? Because money is involve. Police catch these Rohingya ppl, keep them a few months in jail, send them to Thailand or Padang Besar to be sold to ppl smuggler on the Thai side. There they will be held at these camp so they call their friends or relatives that still in malaysia for ransom money and fees to be smuggle back into malaysia.

Last time I heard it was RM$1500-2500.

Now the story in the Thai side goes public, the Malaysian Authority cannot turn the blind eye anymore.

Its still business as usual at the other camps in Sungai Kolok.

[jdlancaster]

I wish they had an eccentric billionaire on this.... bill gates does some great work in Africa. .. I think this could be stopped with a well funded 12 man team and some well connected thai friends and tea money..... idk... normal routes don't work

[metisdead]

An off topic nonsense post has been removed as well as a reply.

[GoodThaiGirl]

The most despicable and inhuman trade in humans.....the report of rapes is completely expected and the people behind this disgusting issue must be bought to justice.

Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar should be thoroughly ashamed that they have practically endorsed this trade that has continued for so long without any intervention whatsoever of any of the countries authorities....and as we all know, these authorities have been complicit all the time.

A shame on SE Asia!

please lets not forget cambodia/laos and vietnam too..they are all at it...as for my country they never fail to bring shame on us people..i would blame the governments too they dont care about anyone but themselves..

[cookee68]

Ever considered changing your religion, because obviously your great God is not helping you,

[jerojero]

Repulsive. But no surprise. Traffickers are scum bags. Officials turning blind eye no better.