At least two women brokers, who sent four young Rakhine women with false promises of jobs in Dubai, the capital of United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been arrested.
Both Mananda, a Rakhine woman broker, and Panpan (b) Khaing Sanda, a Burmese woman, who live
in Shwepyitha township of Yangon, now face a case against the sending of young women to Middle East
countries with false promises.
U Tin Htoo Aung, president of the Arakan National
Network , who is helping the victim Rakhine women, said that a case has been registered in Mingaladon
township court of Yangon division under section 26 of the law on foreign
works.
"Both the ladies have been sued in Mingaladon township
court under the
relevant foreign employment sections. The court hearing date is fixed on 20 July. The mother of a
young woman, who was fraudulently transported,
also came to the court,” he added.
There was another broker named Ma Khaing Than Aye, who along
with the arrested
women, allegedly sent four young Rakhine women (aged between 22 and 26) to Iraq
and Saudi Arabia. The young women were assured jobs in beauty parlors of Dubai.
"They were forced to go to Iraq and Saudi Arabia through Dubai. They were promised jobs in Dubai, but
finally shifted to Iraq Saudi Arabia," he added.
The victim young women hail from Sittwe, Ponna
Kyunt, Mrauk U and Rathedaung townships of Rakhine State.
They were contacted and lured by the
brokers on 7 May. Once they arrived in Dubai, they were sent to Iraq and
Saudi Arabia.
One young woman talked her family members on 21 June from Iraq and revealed that she was
sold by the brokers.
"The case was initially opened in Sittwe but later it was transferred to Yangon, where the
accused brokers have been tried,” said lawyer U Kyaw Soe Naing.
Tin Htoo Aung said that the current case is under a bailable
section and
so they are discussing with a legal expert for prosecuting the defendants under the
prevention of human trafficking act.
Due to the scarcity of employment opportunities in Myanmar, a
large number
of young Burmese women, including those from Rakhine State, rely on brokers to work
in various countries in the Middle East.
The trafficked women often face physical atrocities from their employers. Sometimes, they are sexually exploited and physically assaulted. When they complain to the brokers, they normally remain silent to ignore their sufferings.