Stop Rohingya traffickers at source, activists urge Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) — Authorities in Malaysia and Thailand must act decisively to dismantle human trafficking networks exploiting the Rohingya, following the case of a 12-year-old girl found after a perilous journey from Myanmar to Kelantan through the jungles of Thailand, reports NST.

Activists say the case echoes the mass graves discovered in Wang Kelian in 2015, when trafficked migrants were held in camps and many were believed to have died. 

Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman said the girl dropped off at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Penang was a clear victim of human trafficking.

She was among a group of about 40 people held by an agent in the Thai jungle for eight months, during which their families were extorted for payment in exchange for their release.

She also witnessed smugglers burning the bodies of those who died, including her mother.

She was nearly killed along with others before a man intervened to negotiate their release, allowing her to continue her journey to Kelantan.

“They are being deceived. They were promised a better life in Malaysia,” he told NST. “The focus should be on stopping these traffickers at the source. We need to dismantle their networks in Thailand and Malaysia,” he added.

He said the influx of Rohingya into Malaysia was largely driven by traffickers luring victims with promises of an easier life.

“I feel this is deeply tragic, because people are willing to risk human lives just to make money.

“This is the worst form of human oppression. People are exploited until death, and profit is still made from it,” he said. 

The girl, now under the care of a rehabilitation shelter, suffered severe scabies and head lice — which led traffickers to shave her head along with others.

She also contracted malaria in the jungle and had significant nutritional deficiencies. She was only skin and bones when she was found.

Azam suggested that the state Religious Department provide care for the girl through its orphanages.

Former Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said the case reflected familiar patterns seen in Wang Kelian. “It appears to be the same modus operandi as before. The smugglers are still operating and exploiting victims in the same way,” he said.

He called on the government to extend immediate support to the victim, including tracing her extended family if possible. “The Social Welfare Department can also step in with its expertise in caring for orphaned children.

“Police should investigate the masterminds and treat her as a victim-witness. Do not prolong her suffering,” he said.

Former Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago said Malaysia must respond with a humane and compassionate policy. He noted that as long as the crisis in Myanmar remained unresolved, human trafficking and smuggling would persist.

“What’s important to recognize is that these people are not coming here looking for jobs. They are victims of violence and persecution, particularly the Rohingya.

“We must provide protection. In the case of this 12-year-old girl who is extremely vulnerable, the state must step in and provide care through welfare homes,” he said.

Santiago suggested that the government establish arrangements with local non-governmental organizations and international bodies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for 

Refugees (UNHCR), to care for her. This should include providing education and guidance on Malaysian culture so she can become a productive member of society.

“We need to be compassionate so that she feels welcomed, and ensure that she receives schooling, although this will be challenging as she has likely lost five or six years of education.

“There are also predators who may target children in her situation, so the government must ensure her protection,” he said.