4 Muslims youths from Sittwe sold to human traffickers

Four Muslim youths hailing from Sittwe township of Rakhine State were sold to the human traffickers even though a broker wrongly claimed that they would get jobs, alleged by the family members.

The youths have been identified as  Mar Mauk Solin (16) from Owntawgyi (north) Muslim refugee camp,  Halaya and Soyouk Tamin from Khaung Dukkar village and Tahay from Bodufa village.

Concerned family members informed Narinjara News that those youths were fraudulently recruited and later sold to the brokers on 1 July by an agent named Baitaya from Khaung Dukkar village under Sittwe township.

The family members were informed that they would get the jobs in Rathedaung township.

Mar Mauk Solin’s mother said that her son went to Rathedaung in search of work. Then he and others were trapped by the brokers.

The family sources claimed that they were sold to U Sao Maudein hailing from Kudin Pai village. Now he demands Kyats 5 million for their release.

Another poor mother stated that they have no money to pay. They survive with poverty.

Now the trafficker threatens to kill them if the amount is not paid. She could talk to her son once, when he informed that they are now in Pegu and waiting for supports from the families.

The affected families have approached the responsible authorities, including the anti-trafficking centers in Sittwe and a case was also registered at city police station on 12 August, but still no action is taken against Sao Maudein.

Earlier, three Muslim students from Kyin Ni Byint refugee camp in Pauk Taw township were abducted in July. The kidnappers demanded Kyats 10 million from the families. They are also in trouble as the poor families could not pay the ransom.

Most of the Muslims in Rakhine State live in specified villages and refugee camps on the outskirts of city areas due to the conflicts that surfaced in 2012. They have been living with no freedom of movements for more than a decade now. The traffickers often target the Muslim youths and try to lure them with jobs. Finally they abduct and send the youths to their planned destination.

Caption: Photo of Mar Mauk Solin