Thailand Calls for Malaysia, Myanmar Help in Halting Trafficking

Thailand's junta chief Friday called for Malaysia and Myanmar's help in stamping out the region's thriving human trafficking trade following the discovery of remains from dozens of migrants.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said he had asked his foreign ministry to seek a three-way meeting with counterparts from the neighboring countries before the end of May.

In recent years tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims, mainly from Myanmar, have braved the dangerous sea crossing to southern Thailand, with many headed for Malaysia and beyond.

The recent discovery of migrant graves and a network of secret jungle camps run by people smugglers in the deep south have highlighted Thailand's central role in a grim trade in which officials have long been accused of complicity.

"We are the middle country, what should we do?" Prayut told reporters.

"They (the migrants) have to pass Thailand on the way. But the third country doesn't want to accept them (either)," he added.

The Thai leader, who took over in a coup nearly a year ago, suggested officials across the region were benefiting from the trade.

"There have been evil people as well as the authorities. But without the authorities joining in, it wouldn't happen," he said, adding corrupt officials should be "got rid of".

On Thursday a Malaysian labor rights group said it had received reports of undocumented migrant workers going missing south of the Thai border.

Glorene Das, director of Tenaganita, said interviews with migrant victims indicated Malaysians were involved in human smuggling and also ran secret prison camps.

The discovery of the skeleton filled graves at remote jungle camps on Thailand’s southern border with Malaysia were made during a recent crackdown that comes at a crucial time for the kingdom.

Last summer the US relegated Thailand to the bottom of its list of countries failing to tackle modern-day slavery.

The next State Department report on human trafficking is expected imminently and Thailand has lobbied Washington against its inclusion in the lowest tier, insisting it is now clamping down.

Around half a dozen people have been arrested in the last week on suspicion of running people smuggling rackets, including a Myanmar national known as "Anwar" who is accused of being a kingpin.

More than 50 police officers, including senior officials, have been transferred from their posts for complicity or turning a blind eye to the trade.