Myanmar's Navy Seizes Boat Packed With Over 700 Migrants, People-Smuggling Becoming A Matter Of Concern

Myanmar's navy has reportedly seized a boat filled with 727 migrants off the country's southern coast, the authorities said, a week after it found a similar boat that reportedly carried around 200 people from Muslim Rohingya community as well as economic refugees from Bangladesh. However, the exact nationality of the people on the boat is still unclear. Myanmar's ministry of information described people from both the communities as "Bengalis".

Among the 727 people, there were 608 men, 74 women and 45 children, onboard a fishing boat have been arrested as a Myanmar navy ship spotted it on early hours on Friday.

Though the U.S. is sympathetic about the plight of the migrants adrift at sea, and urged for immediate rescue, Myanmar insisted not to blame the regional crisis meeting held in Thailand for their plight.

Over 3,000 migrants have landed in Indonesia and Malaysia since Thailand started a crackdown on human trafficking groups this month. Meanwhile, a Thai national has been arrested on Saturday for allegedly trafficking “Bengali” migrants into Thailand and Malaysia.

Reports suggest, the human smugglers have been luring the Rohingya Muslims from Mynamar and refugees from Bangladesh into these dangerous boat trips.

Otherwise, Malaysia is reportedly the favourite destination of these refugees; first they travel to Thailand by boat, and then sneak into the northern parts of Malaysia.

"Myanmar navy is now transporting the boat to its base on Haingye Island," said Tun Kyaw Kyaw, a top government official responsible for the area region where navy base is located. The island close to the place where the boat was seized on Friday. "After sending the people to the island, we will investigate them," said Tun Kyaw Kyaw, because the examination would help the authorities determine their identities.

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