2 women brokers involved with Rakhine women trafficking arrested

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.