Ministry finds human trafficking signs on Myanmar refugee case

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 01/30/2009

The Foreign Ministry said Friday they have found indications of human trafficking in the case of the 193 Myanmar refugees who were stranded offshore Sabang Island in Aceh province earlier this month.

"We suspect a third party was involved in trying to transfer the refugees into our territory," ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said during a press conference at the ministry in Jakarta.

Teuku said that after a preliminary interview with the refugees, the ministry was unable to identify any other party that may have provided the refugees with boats for their journey.

He also that there has been a pattern of Myanmar refugees getting stranded in Indonesian teritory.

"Another group came ashore on Rondo Island in 2006, but there was no conclusion to that case, because it was drawn out and the refugees left Indonesia without giving notice," he said.

Previously, the media have reported the refugees are members of the Rohingya ethnic group, several hundred thousand people who live along the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Human rights agencies and the US government have long asserted the Rohingya face harsh discrimination and are denied citizenship in their home country of Myanmar because they are Muslims.

Earlier on Friday, Myanmar state media said the Rohingya were not included among the country's recognized ethnic groups. (dre)