BANGKOK, OCT 18 – Three Rohingya refugees died when they were smuggled into a truck in Thailand, while two suspects were arrested today, police said.
The predominantly Muslim Rohingya are severely persecuted in war-torn western Myanmar, where thousands risk their lives each year to try to reach Malaysia or Indonesia via Thailand.
A monk has found two refugees dead in a forest in Chumphon province, while eight others survived, seven of whom were injured, officials said yesterday.
One of the injured refugees died today, a hospital staff member said AFP.
The uninjured victim told police the smugglers had put 26 people into two vehicles after they crossed the Thai-Myanmar border.
“The driver allegedly dumped the Rohingya ethnic group there after realizing that some of them were injured,” the police said in a statement.
Officials have detained two Thai drivers and seized their truck for further investigation, they said, adding that 16 more Rohingya in the group had fled. – AFP
