Illegal immigrants accounting for 240 passengers arrested at Kawthaung post

IMNA
February 17, 2006

A group of 240 people trying to enter Thailand and Malaysia illegally by a ship belonging to the Myanmar Five Star Line were arrested by Kawthaung authorities yesterday.

The group from different states of Burma who sailed from Rangoon to Kawthaung by the Myitkyina ship were detained at the football stadium of Kawthaung and interrogated by Anti Black Market authorities in the town.

“The authorities did not nab any human traffickers who brought them,” a businessman said. But the authorities are investigating the groups' leader.

“Most of them are Arakanese and Chin including about 20 Mon people. Most are middle aged,” he added.

The authorities have planned to send back these people to Rangoon on the same ship tomorrow. But whether the authorities would send them to court could not be confirmed. According to a source close to the authorities, this is the first time people trying to enter neighboring countries illegally through the port have been arrested.

They were arrested at about 10 a.m. when the ship berthed. But passengers traveling legally were released after investigation.

The Myanmar Five Star Line (MFSL) is under the Ministry of Transport and was established as the national flag carrier more than four decades ago. The MFSL has about 25 vessels and serves the coasts of Kawthaung, Thandwe, Moulmein , Sittwe, Dawei, and Myeik.