Nameless Graves Mark the End of Tortured Existence for Rohingya in Thailand

PHUKET: Five boatpeople, victims of Thailand's traffickers, were buried in a Songkhla village yesterday while others continue to suffer disease and cramped conditions in secret jungle ''animal pens'' or official confinement.

Local Muslim authorities say that deaths from diseases and severe conditions are likely to continue until Thailand's government recognises that thousands of Rohingya, being smuggled through Thailand, should be accorded basic human rights.

''The men we buried today were aged 16 to 40,'' said Isma-Aen Mat-Adam, of the Rohingya Help Network in Thailand. ''All of them died after being 'rescued' from the secret jungle traffickers' camps. Hospitals could not save them

''These deaths show how bad the conditions are in the jungle camps and in Thailand's detention centres.''

The men had been confined by Thai authorities and by traffickers in a serial rights abuse since January last year.

In the hospital, where doctors and nurses tried to save the men from the ravages caused by constant cramped confinement at the hands of Thai officials and traffickers, the nameless dead men were recorded on official documents as ''Rohingya One,'' ''Rohingya Two,'' ''Rohingya Three'' . . .

The first man died on January 30. Another perished on February 1. The third death followed on February 2. Two more came on February 4 . . . it's likely their family and friends are among more than 700 Rohingya still being held in southern Thailand.

The boatpeople were ''rescued'' by Thai authorities late last month from two secret jungle camps, little more than animal pens with earthen floors and no room for the captives to stretch or stand.

Twenty-four men who were unable to walk were left after the ''rescue'' to fend for themselves in the jungle at one corral site, said the Chairman of the Muslim Committee of Songkhla province, Sakkeeya Binsala.

For many, it was the second time in the traffickers' camps, having been previously ''rescued'' in January last year then confined for all the intervening months in cramped Immigration or police cells before being ''deported'' into the arms of waiting traffickers.

And around they go again, seeking sanctuary in Malaysia . . . but finding only a kind of hell in Thailand.

Wrapped in white shrouds and buried by local residents, the five fresh anonymous graves at the village near Sadao now bear silent witness to the fate of the stateless in Thailand.

A final resting place ends long and cruel treatment for five Rohingya

Deputy Judge extorts money through law in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The deputy Judge is extorting money from Rohingya who faced trial in Maungdaw Judge Court, said Halim, Human Rights Watchdog from Maungdaw.

U Than Htun Oo, the deputy judge of Maungdaw judge court used his power in trials to extort money from Rohingya who case was hearing under his supervise, starting 500,000 kyat to 1000,000 kyat depended on the person, the watchdog said.
U Than Htun Oo used his power when a case was able to bill or dismiss – release temporarily (by a court of law) and unconditionally release- but he used the law to extort money from person, saying he will send him to jail and sends his assistant to negotiate for demand money to release, said Anno, a victim of the Judge.
The judge also issued trial date very near which harmed the people didn’t able to prepare for next date trial and asking money  for day long time,  Anno, more said.
Recently, the judge extorted 1000,000 kyat from Kiasar, a youth from Shwe Zarr village tract for quarrel case –Act 324, said a relative of Kiasar.
The judge is taking advantage recent situation  where the Law and order was not favor  to Rohingya community in Maungdaw and no one take any action against him for his misusing of law and power, said an elder from Maungdaw.
The Maungdaw high level officers – U Aung Myint Soe, the district admin officer and U Kyi San, the Township admin officer- are also using their power to harass and ill treatment the Rohingya community under their post, the elder added.

Authority searching mobile phones in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Maungdaw high level officers ordered to village admin officers to list all mobile phones which was issued by Myanmar Post and Telegram department (MPT), said Haroon, a student from Maungdaw.

The ordered was issued after visiting of Arakan State chief minister visited Maungdaw to see the ground situation of Du Chee Ya tan ( Kila Dong) village , Maungdaw south, Haroon more added.
The GSM mobile SIM cards were issued by the authority to the people and now the authority collecting the list of mobile in the villages – only Rohingya villages- to harass the Rohingya and the gateway to extort money with false allegation, said Hamid, a school teacher from Maungdaw.
The authority will impose or tract Rohingya who are using the MPT mobiles to control the flow of information through the mobile network –like recent violent attacked on Kila Dong Rohingya villagers by security forces and Mogh from Kharay mine Natala village, Hamid more added.
International community pressured the Burmese government with the information which the villagers informed through their mobile network to media and other concern rights groups. So, the Maungdaw authority are trying to control Rohingya MPT mobile holders not to send information to media and others.
“It may be imposed the Rohingya not to use the mobiles or to harass or to extort money from with this allegation,” said Halim, the Human Rights Watchdog from Maungdaw.
The MPT mobiles are sold by authority which was legal to use by the people, but the authority is now trying to control the use of mobile within the Rohingya community which will cut the Rohingya from the world, the watchdog said.