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Mass Migrant Graves Found In Malaysia

Mass graves containing the bodies of Muslim migrants attempting to flee Burma have been discovered by police in camps used by human traffickers.

Police officials said they had found 139 graves at 29 abandoned camps on the border with Thailand where Rohingya migrants had been held.

The Rohingyas are an ethnic minority in Burma, also known as Myanmar, described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted people on the planet.

Home Minister Zahid Hamidi told reporters: "These graves are believed to be a part of human trafficking activities involving migrants."

He said top police officials were trying to identify and verify "the mass graves that were found," but did not say how many bodies had been recovered.

Malaysia’s Star newspaper reported that one of the graves in Padang Besar may contain 100 Rohingya migrants.

Similar camps and dozens of remains were recovered in the jungle across the border in Thailand earlier this month where Rohingya had been held by traffickers until their families could pay for their freedom.

It comes after Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand caused international anger earlier this week by sending back thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshis stranded on rickety boats at sea.

Malaysia and Indonesia subsequently bowed to pressure - agreeing to provide temporary shelter to the migrants.