As many as 6,000 Rohingya migrants are reportedly trapped at sea, whilst in the past 24 hours, Indonesia and Malaysia have rescued in the region of 1,600 Rohingya fleeing persecution and oppression in their homeland, Burma.
The migrants are attempting to cross the trecherous sea in wooden vessels into Malaysia where they are generally better recieved than in other neighbouring countries. Last week, reports emerged of mass graves being found in Southern Thailand. In recent months a growing number of reports and horror cases have emerged from Thailand of rights abuse and human trafficking. Swathes of 'slave camps' where migrants are locked and held until their families pay ransom have been found. Those whose ransoms are paid will then be trafficked onto another gang to other parts of Thailand or neighbouring countries.
The Pedang Basor (Thailand) mayor, Soe Naing, his deputy and around 50 police officers have been arrested in connection with the human trafficking and consequential human righst abuses. The discovery of the mass graves in Southern Thailand has manifested what many had thought of the abuse of Rohingya in these 'slave camps'. It is believed that the mass graves have deterred the Rohingya migrants from attempting to shore in Thailand.