Thailand questions 117 migrants from Bangladesh, Myanmar

Thai authorities today questioned more than 100 migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar discovered in Thailand's south to determine whether they were victims of human trafficking, as Thailand races to meet a deadline to uncover people smuggling camps within its borders.

The 117 migrants were found in Rattaphum district in Songkhla province, near the Malaysian border, Ekarat Sisen, deputy governor of Songkhla Province of Thailand, told Reuters.

Most of the groups were from Bangladesh.

"There are 117 people here, 26 of them are Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar and the rest are from Bangladesh," the deputy governor said.

Suspected Rohingya migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh choose clothes at Rattaphum district hall in Thailand's southern Songkhla province May 9, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Thirty-three bodies, believed to be migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, have been found in shallow graves over the past week in Songkhla province. Three suspected trafficking camps were also found.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced a 10-day deadline to crack down the illicit trade. On Friday, Prayuth called for a three-way meeting with neighbours Malaysia and Myanmar to try to resolve a regional human trafficking crisis following the discoveries.

"We need to figure out if any these people are trafficking victims or whether they entered country on their own. If they are victims of human trafficking we must hand them over to Ministry of Social Development and Human Security," the deputy governor said.

"Those who voluntarily entered the country illegally will be sent immigration police and eventually sent back to their country of origin."

An official pours water for suspected Rohingya migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh at Rattaphum district hall in Thailand's southern Songkhla province May 9, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Police had said on Friday that 111 migrants were found.

Huddled in a meeting room in Rattaphum district, the 117 migrants, including three children, brushed their teeth, slept, prayed and ate, waiting to be interviewed, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene.

Some Thai villagers came to donate water, rice and fruit to the migrants.

Thirteen-year-old Busri Salam, from Bangladesh, said his group disembarked a boat in Thailand and trekked for two weeks in the Thai jungle to try and reach Malaysia.

"My brother is in Malaysia," said Busri. "I wanted to go there."

An estimated 25,000 Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis boarded people-smugglers' boats in the first three months of the year, double the number a year earlier, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday.

The migrants brave perilous journeys to escape religious and ethnic persecution and poverty.