Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar feared missing
- 9 years ago
This group leaving Myanmar are among thousands of stateless Rohingyas believed to have gone missing.
The boat's captain, who filmed this footage in October, said they were on their way to Malaysia to join families who fled the conflict in Rakhine state. But no one has heard from them since.
About 12,000 Rohingya Muslims are believed to have left since mid-October. But authorities in Thailand, where boat people usually transit, say they can't confirm numbers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) COMMANDER OF IMMIGRATION DIVISION 6 POLICE MAJOR GENERAL THATCHAI PITANEELABOOT, SAYING:
"The number of boat people that we have found is not that many. The latest incident was in Kapor's Ranong province. We found 252 people."
An advocacy group for the persecuted minority fear many were captured by smugglers and human traffickers.
And even if they reach dry shores, there's the risk of being sent back, as they're considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities.
The boat's captain, who filmed this footage in October, said they were on their way to Malaysia to join families who fled the conflict in Rakhine state. But no one has heard from them since.
About 12,000 Rohingya Muslims are believed to have left since mid-October. But authorities in Thailand, where boat people usually transit, say they can't confirm numbers.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) COMMANDER OF IMMIGRATION DIVISION 6 POLICE MAJOR GENERAL THATCHAI PITANEELABOOT, SAYING:
"The number of boat people that we have found is not that many. The latest incident was in Kapor's Ranong province. We found 252 people."
An advocacy group for the persecuted minority fear many were captured by smugglers and human traffickers.
And even if they reach dry shores, there's the risk of being sent back, as they're considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities.