Human traffickers explore new routes to Malaysia after Thai crackdown, say aid groups

Rohingya and Bangladeshi refugees are transported to a navy boat where they will be taken to mainland Malaysia, after they landed at Pantai Pasir Berdengung beach in Langkawi, Kedah, May 15, 2015. — Reuters pic

BANGKOK, Oct 21 — People smugglers are exploring new routes to Malaysia after a crackdown on trafficking in Thailand with no large migrant boat departures from Myanmar and Bangladesh in nearly six months, aid agencies said.

Rising numbers of Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution were setting off from Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state and Bangladesh in small boats and transferring to larger boats that could carry more than 1,000 people each.

But a Thai crackdown on human traffickers in May halted journeys by large smuggling boats across the Bay of Bengal to Thailand and Malaysia with activists only hearing unconfirmed rumours of a few small boats.

Aid agencies, however, fear the halt in sea crossings does not indicate an end to people trafficking but means smuggling gangs are exploring new routes.

“We don’t see new ones, but we know different routes are being studied so they don’t have to be moved by boat,” said Chris Lewa, founder of the Arakan Project, a rights project focusing on the Rohingya.

“Some boats may leave, but there is definitely a strong impact of the Thai crackdown ... The kind of movement and recruitment happening last year is not happening this year. It’s a lot more clandestine.”

Lewa said new routes could be by air or overland and aid workers were now monitoring the area to identify the shift.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) had warned that “the number of people leaving on smugglers’ boats in the Bay of Bengal has increased in recent years, and that trend is likely to continue unless the root causes are addressed”.

Halt in boat departures

Throughout 2013 and 2014, activists tallied at least 1,000 people — and often several thousand — leaving each month from Rakhine state andBangladesh.

The number peaked a year ago this month at more than 13,000 people, but stopped in May amid a boat crisis and the Thai crackdown.

“There have been zero since May,” said Jeff Labovitz, who heads the regional office of the International Organisation for Migration. “There has been a fundamental change. There are no more big boats sailing.”

But aid workers say the demand is still there.

The persecution of the stateless Rohingya in Myanmar has worsened this year and elections next month may bring in a new, hardline Buddhist partywhich may treat them still more harshly.

Communal clashes in 2012 in Rakhine state forced 140,000 Rohingya from their homes, and many are virtual prisoners in camps or in segregated villages, subject to restrictions on travel and, in some areas, access to healthcare and education.

In February the Rohingya were granted temporary “white card” identification cards so they could take part in the November 8 election, but after Buddhist protests the government revoked the cards, effectively denying Rohingya the right to vote.

“They are politically disenfranchised. The situation in Rakhine is worse than a year ago,” Lewa said. “The push factor is stronger than last year, but the open door to Thailand now seems to be closed.”

The Thai coast — not far from popular tourist areas — was a disembarkation point for many Rohingya smuggled by boat. They were then taken further south and over a porous border into Malaysia.

However, traffickers began diverting migrants to secret camps near the Thai-Malaysia border, holding them for ransom and killing and torturing those whose families could not pay up. Others died of disease and neglect.

After the discovery in May of dozens of graves on the Thai-Malaysia border, smugglers abandoned thousands of migrants at sea to avoid being caught by Thai and Malaysian investigators.

Julia Mayerhofer, interim executive director of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN), said the root cause of discontent was still there in Myanmar.

Amnesty International, which released a report today about the region’s trafficking crisis, pressed Myanmar to stop violence against the Rohingya by state security forces, and to amend its laws to grant the Rohingya citizenship.

“People are still desperate to leave. If you block one way, people will find another way, and that might be more dangerous and more risky for the people,” Mayerhofer said. — Reuters

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Malaysian gov’t must guarantee rights of children

Child protection has always been mooted as a priority for the Malaysian government. After all, Rosmah Mansor once famously reminded everyone, “Children are the nation’s foundation, and the needs of civilisation’s sustainability. They are valuable assets to nation building, helping to realize our vision and to shape the nation’s future growth and progress.”

Every single child regardless of their country of origin has the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse.

However, millions of children suffer from such atrocities every single day. According to the UN, 1.2 million children worldwide are being trafficked and approximately 300,000 children - both boys and girls under the age of 18, are used as child soldiers and forced to provide sexual services in various war torn countries.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 215 million children between the ages of 5-17 are employed in various forms of labor which robs them of their childhood and educational needs; more than half are subjected to extremely harsh working conditions.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that there are about 19.5 million refugees worldwide and 51 percent are under 18 years old. This is by far the ‘highest figure for child refugees in more than a decade’ and these numbers prove just how vulnerable children really are.

Recently, Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming revealed that among 71,362 detainees currently detained in various immigration centres across Malaysia - 1,918 are children; 813 from Myanmar, 422 from Indonesia, 295 from Philippines, 121 from Cambodia. These numbers are painfully shocking and the government must seriously look into this matter.

The Malaysian government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1995 which aimed to maintain civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of all children below 18 years old.

Article 2 clearly defines the non-discriminatory practices and applications of which signatories must adhere to. In other words, it shouldn’t matter where the child resides, where they come from, what gender they are or whether they have disabilities, no child should be treated unfairly on any basis.

Article 4 which detail the protection of rights, states that ‘governments have a responsibility to take all available measures to make sure children’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.’

Every country that ratifies the convention agrees to review their laws relating to children. The Malaysia Child Act 2001, was partially enacted in order to fulfill Malaysia's obligations under this article, which details the country’s legislation for the protection, care and rehabilitation of children. Upon ratifying the convention, governments are obligated to take all necessary measures to ensure that at least minimum standards are being met.

Vulnerability often associated with age

Vulnerability is often associated with age; therefore, the risks are higher amongst younger children and those from a particular ethnic origin, gender or socio-economic background. Child refugees and unaccompanied migrant children are also at greater risk of being abused and exploited, therefore, Article 22 details the rights of refugee children whose protection, safety and wellbeing must be guaranteed - once again, regardless of status, ethnicity and religion.

This is a very important part that ensures protection must be extended even to non-Malaysian children.

The 1,918 detained children need extensive psychological and physical treatment to help them recover from the troubles associated with separation and the traumatic experiences they have experienced. Children need stability in order to develop positive and healthy relationships with those around them.

Unfortunately, the current system does not offer adequate support and the curative treatment these children need. A country that has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child cannot consent to a system that exhibits and perpetuates any practices that violate children’s rights.

Malaysia, being one of these countries, can no longer close an eye and continue to ignore the plight of these children - the government must be stringent when it comes to adhering to the Convention and must be made accountable for tolerating this poor lapse of judgment.

SYERLEENA ABDUL RASHID is DAP Youth Bukit Bendera secretary, DAP Wanita Bukit Bendera political education director and MBPP councillor.