AGENTS MAKE FAST BUCK FROM SMUGGLING ROHINGYA REFUGEES INTO MALAYSIA

by MOHD HAIKAL MOHD ISA

KULAIJAYA (Malaysia), March 2 (Bernama) -- Rohingya refugees from Myanmar
have to fork out from RM1,000 (US$268)(children) to RM2,200 (US$590) (adults)
each to agents in southern Thailand to smuggle them into Malaysia.

One of the refugees, Nur Aishah Mohamad, 40, said on arrival in southern
Thailand, the refugees were grouped in thick jungle near towns like Tak Bai and
Sadao.

"The agents kept us in the jungle under heavy guard. We slept on plastic
sheets and were given some food and drinks while waiting for the right time to
cross the border into Malaysia.

"Life in the jungle was horrible, dirty and dangerous with venomous snakes
all over the place," said Nur Aishah who claimed to have paid about RM5,000 to
agents to smuggle her and three children here.

The children are Siti Nor Naha, 8, Mohamad Yahya, 5, and disabled Siti Nor
Safia, 4.

Another refugee, Abu Shahid Ahmad, 33, said the agents also used violence
against Rohingyas who failed to pay them the smuggling fees.

He said the refugees were regularly beaten up by the agents while some were
forced to become beggars to settle the fees.

"I was forced to beg in Kota Baharu for two weeks to collect money for the
fees while my wife and child were kept in the jungle. Thankfully, they were not
harmed by the agents," he said.

Abu Shahid said he paid agents RM4,500 (US$1,207) to smuggle his family into
Malaysia and was kept by agents in a jungle near Tak Bai.

His treatment by the agents was nothing compared to what happened to two
refugees who failed to pay the fees demanded by the agents.

"The two were shot dead before my eyes and their bodies taken to some jungle
area.

Community Rohingya Islam Pro-Democracy Organisation (CRIPDO) president
Mustafa Kamal Abu Basir, 36, said refugees who failed to pay agents were sold to
Thai fishing operators.

"They will work in the fishing boats until they die. Those who fell ill were
shot dead and their bodies thrown overboard," he said.

Mustafa Kamal who has been staying in Malaysia for 25 years said that
Rohingyas have to endure such inhuman treatment because the international
community does not care about their plight.

CRIPDO is one of several organisations established by Rohingyas to look
after the welfare of some 15,000 refugees in Malaysia.

The Rohingya refugees from the Arakan region of Myanmar fled their country
due to hostilities and oppression by the Yangon regime.

-- BERNAMA