Thailand, Malaysia discuss transport of Rohingya bodies

SONGKHLA, THAILAND, May 27 (TNA) - Malaysian authorities have sought permission to transport Rohingya bodies through the Thai territory, after they recently found 139 graves in the Malaysian Perlis State bordering Thailand. Police Major General Phutthichart Ekachant, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Police Region 9, told journalists of the information on Wednesday, explaining that the transport past Sadao District of Songkhla Province in the Thai South should be a convenient shortcut and Malaysian authorities were discussing the issue with Thai authorities at the Sadao Police Station. Meanwhile, local police have continued hunting for 29 more suspects in alleged trafficking of migrants in southern Thai provinces, as they plan to conclude their investigative report on the trafficking by June 20. Thai authorities have, so far, seized assets, worth 84 million baht, from suspects in the human trafficking case. Thai Deputy Defence Minister and Army Chief General Udomdej Sitabutr told reporters that army soldiers have been assigned to patrol to look for illegal migrants who will be brought to the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) for further action, if found, based on legal and humanitarian norms. (TNA)