7 years after Wang Kelian mass graves, human trafficking persists

SPECIAL REPORT | Seven years after mass graves of Rohingya migrants were found in the hills of Wang Kelian in Perlis, not only have the perpetrators remained unprosecuted, but checks found that human trafficking through the Thai border continues unabated.

International border closures in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic had also ironically emboldened human trafficking syndicates, which continue to smuggle Rohingya migrants escaping violence or economic oppression in Myanmar.

But instead of the Wang Kelian crossing in Perlis, trafficking activities have shifted to the Bukit Kayu Hitam border area in Kedah some 65km away.

When met, multiple settlers at Bukit Tangga Felda located along the Thailand-Malaysian border in Bukit Kayu Hitam attested that human trafficking still happens in their midst.

But all who spoke to Malaysiakini did so on condition of anonymity fearing they could be harmed by the syndicates.

They said in some areas, the...