More suspicious graves discovered in Thai far South

SONGKHLA, THAILAND, May 7 (TNA) - Authorities have found 30 more graves believed to have connection with illegal cross-border trafficking of Rohingya migrants in Songkhla Province in the Thai far South. Border patrol police on Thursday found the 30 graves at an old Muslim burial place in Ban Chalung of Chalung Sub-district in Songkhla which has been abandoned for nearly four decades. Villagers said that there had originally been only six graves and the 30 new graves should be dug about a year ago. The police also found a deserted Rohingya camp in adjacent Ban Khlong To area of Kamphaeng Phet Sub-district in Songkhla's Rattaphum District, assuming that it stood on the way from Satun Province to Songkhla's Sadao District bordering Malaysia. Authorities also brought additional 13 Rohingya Muslim migrants rescued from the Kaeo Mountain in Sadao to interrogation. The rescued 13 Rohingya Muslims, including four children, are part of a 30-member group that had been wandering for the past 10 days. They told the local authorities that brokers helped them sneak into Thailand and promised them jobs in a third country where they would work for two years without receiving their wages to repay a trafficking fee to the brokers. The Thai authorities believe the rescued Rohingya migrants were abandoned by their brokers, vowing that they would continue locating the 17 other Rohingya migrants in the group who are believed to remain in the jungle. Thai Deputy National Police Chief Police General Aek Angsananont told journalists, after his meeting with investigators in Rohingya cases in Songkhal's Hat Yai District earlier in the day, that arrest warrants have already been issued against 10 more suspects, after they have earlier issued arrest warrants against 18 others, four of them were arrested and one was already in custody, acknowledging that of the 18, seven are government officials and 11 are civilians. Meanwhile, National Police Chief Police General Somyot Pumpanmuang ordered on Wednesday night the transfer to inactive posts of 38 police officers, ranging from the level of deputy commanders downward to that of non-commissioned officers, who were responsible for supervising migrants and routes used by suspected human traffickers. Police General Aek said the transfer is aimed at facilitating investigation, stressing that the officers remain innocent until they will be found guilty. National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Anusith Kunakorn told reporters that Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha has, in the meantime, ordered concerned agencies to speed up solving the illegal immigration of Rohingya people transparently, concretely and efficiently. According to the NSC chief, his agency is investigating suspected cases of illegal cross-border trafficking of Rohingya migrants and asked for cooperation from neighboring countries on the issue, which has also helped address other transnational problems such as illegal weapons trade. The NSC chief revealed that Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr, who is also Deputy Defence Minister, has also closely supervised the Thai military's actions in helping prevent and crack down illegal immigration of Rohingya people. (TNA)