Myanmar navy rescues 102 more 'boat people'

YANGON - Myanmar navy has rescued 102 more "boat people" who are Bengalis, from an islet near Kawthoung, the country's southernmost Tanintharyi region, an official report said Tuesday.

The Bengali "boat people" were left on the small islet in Myanmar territory in early June, the report said, adding that the Myanmar navy is searching the areas for more such people and the victims will be sent back to their country of origin.

Last month, Myanmar had sent back the first batch of a total of 187 Bangladeshi "boat people" out of 200 rescued on May 21 off Myanmar's Rakhine coast after citizenship verification.

The citizenship verification on the second batch 733 "boat people", rescued by Myanmar navy on May 29 at sea near Pyapon township, southwestern Ayayawaddy region, also completed. Of them, Bangladeshi accounted for 546, while Myanmar's Bengalis took 187 as verified.

Arrangements were being made through diplomatic channel to repatriate the 546 Bangladeshi to their country of origin, according to Myanmar authorities.

Investigation by the Myanmar government found that some of the "boat people" had fallen victim to human trafficking rings and crime syndicates after receiving offer of work in Thailand and Malaysia from illegal job brokers.