PHUKET: Rescuers discovered 72 boatpeople hidden in jungle near the sea north of Phuket early today.
Several required immediate hospital treatment and others are believed to have drowned.
The discovery of a fresh group of boatpeople follows the revelation yesterday that a batch of 53 boatpeople held at the weekend were all kidnapped in Bangladesh and had no desire to go to Malaysia.
First reports coming to Phuketwan are that the group rescued today were forced to swim from one secret island hideway to another as authorities closed in.
Some are missing, believed drowned.
Authorities hope to arrest the human trafficking chief suspect today.
The local authorities have helped to achieve a declaration that the kidnap victims are also human trafficking victims.
Now efforts are being made to get all 53 men safely back to Bangladesh. Most are Rohingya refugees.
Several required immediate hospital treatment and others are believed to have drowned.
The discovery of a fresh group of boatpeople follows the revelation yesterday that a batch of 53 boatpeople held at the weekend were all kidnapped in Bangladesh and had no desire to go to Malaysia.
First reports coming to Phuketwan are that the group rescued today were forced to swim from one secret island hideway to another as authorities closed in.
Some are missing, believed drowned.
Authorities hope to arrest the human trafficking chief suspect today.
The local authorities have helped to achieve a declaration that the kidnap victims are also human trafficking victims.
Now efforts are being made to get all 53 men safely back to Bangladesh. Most are Rohingya refugees.
125 boatpeople in just 2 days? On 7th Sept the Navy Commander urged Phuket sailors to protect coastline, maintain security. Is that excluding kidnapped boatpeople, and human trafficking?
Posted by Kurt on October 13, 2014 15:15
Editor Comment:
Nobody knows what the Navy does to prevent human trafficking because the Navy isn't saying. It's about time the need for transparency was embraced.