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| Thailand convicts Rohingya traffickers at mass trial | Thailand convicts Rohingya traffickers at mass trial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A court in Thailand has begun handing out guilty verdicts for human trafficking during the 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis. | A court in Thailand has begun handing out guilty verdicts for human trafficking during the 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis. |
| More than 100 defendants are on trial on charges including trafficking, kidnapping and murder. | More than 100 defendants are on trial on charges including trafficking, kidnapping and murder. |
| Facing severe repression in Myanmar, Muslim Rohingya have for years been fleeing the country, paying people smugglers to help them get out. | Facing severe repression in Myanmar, Muslim Rohingya have for years been fleeing the country, paying people smugglers to help them get out. |
| In 2015, thousands were left stranded at sea and abandoned in jungle camps. | In 2015, thousands were left stranded at sea and abandoned in jungle camps. |
| The crisis escalated after international pressure forced the Thai authorities to crack down on the smuggling networks. | The crisis escalated after international pressure forced the Thai authorities to crack down on the smuggling networks. |
| This led to the smugglers abandoning the refugees, leaving them on their sea and land routes with no neighbouring country willing to take them in. | This led to the smugglers abandoning the refugees, leaving them on their sea and land routes with no neighbouring country willing to take them in. |
| The current trial was sparked by the discovery of mass graves of refugees in jungle camps near the Thai-Malaysian border. | The current trial was sparked by the discovery of mass graves of refugees in jungle camps near the Thai-Malaysian border. |
| Most of those indicted are from Thailand but several citizens of Myanmar and Bangladesh are also being held. | Most of those indicted are from Thailand but several citizens of Myanmar and Bangladesh are also being held. |
| Among the defendants is also a high-ranking Thai military official, Lieutenant-General Manas Kongpan. | Among the defendants is also a high-ranking Thai military official, Lieutenant-General Manas Kongpan. |
| The Rohingya - a distinct Muslim ethnic group who are effectively stateless - have been fleeing Myanmar for decades with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia the most desired destinations. | |
| While they say they are descendants of Arab traders who have been in the region for generations, Myanmar's governments insist they are not a genuine ethnic group but rather Bengali migrants. | While they say they are descendants of Arab traders who have been in the region for generations, Myanmar's governments insist they are not a genuine ethnic group but rather Bengali migrants. |
| Among the refugees stranded during the 2015 crisis were also many economic migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. | Among the refugees stranded during the 2015 crisis were also many economic migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. |