Four Muslims from Sittwe fall victim to trafficking

By Admin 23 Aug 2023

DMG Newsroom
23 August 2023, Sittwe

Four Muslims from Arakan State’s Sittwe Township have been trafficked after they were lured by false promises of jobs, according to family members.

Among the four trafficked are a 16-year-old teenager from Ohn Taw Gyi camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), two Muslims from Khaung Dokkar Village, and one from Bawdupha Village. The ages of the three other victims were not known at the time of reporting.

A Muslim man from Khaung Dokkar Village took the four on July 1, saying they would have jobs in Rathedaung.

The man then handed over the four to another Muslim man from Alarthin Village in Sittwe, from where they were handed to a broker in Khatinpike Village.

“We went to see the broker,” said the mother of the teenager from Ohn Taw Gyi IDP camp. “He told me to give six million kyats in exchange for the release of my son, and threatened to kill him if I refuse to pay the ransom. I am struggling even for daily meals. How can I afford to pay six million kyats? Please help for my son.”

She said she reported to Sittwe Township Police Force on August 12 about the trafficking of her son.

“The broker is still in Khatinpike Village. Police have not taken any action against him. I have gotten contact with my son. He said he and others are being held in Bago,” she said.

DMG was unable to contact the Sittwe Township Police Force for comment.

Member of the Ohn Taw Gyi Muslim IDP camp management committee Ko Einu said trafficking is not unusual at the camp, and in some cases, brokers are known to ask for ransom.

“Brokers promised high-paying jobs in Malaysia. There are no jobs available at the refugee [and IDP] camps. So, they go with brokers,” he said.

Driven by poverty and restrictions on movement, Muslims continue to leave Arakan State despite the risk of being arrested and jailed under immigration law, or being trafficked by brokers.