KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Putrajaya must tackle human trafficking problem in the country seriously instead paying lip service or denying its existence, Lawyers of Liberty (LFL) said today in light of the discovery of 139 mass graves at suspected people-smuggling camps in Perlis.
Its executive director, Eric Paulsen, said that there were many “credible reports” of Myanmar refugees who fled to the country and ended up “being victims in the lucrative human trafficking business” at the Malaysia and Thailand border.
This included a 2009 report by a US senator that detailed human trafficking and extortion in Malaysia and Southern Thailand, which included allegations that Malaysian authorities were involved.
“Despite these credible reports of modern day slavery and human trafficking, the Malaysian authorities have long denied the existence of such activities,” Paulsen said.
“(The) government must demonstrate political will to act and hold accountable all those involved, regardless of rank, status or connection.”
Police yesterday confirmed the discovery of 139 grave sites and 28 abandoned detention camps used by people-smugglers in Perlis, after the Home Ministry initially denied the existence of any such sites in Malaysia.
Last year, Malaysia was relegated from Tier 2 to Tier 3 in the US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons report, the lowest ranking, joining Thailand, The Gambia and Venezuela.
