Myanmar arrests 112 undocumented Rohingya

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar authorities have arrested more than 110 Rohingya, including children, for traveling "without official documents" as they tried to make their way to Malaysia, state media reported Friday.

A total of 112 people, including a dozen children, were arrested in the southeastern township of Bogale, according to the Global New Light of Myanmar, with 35 given five-year prison terms.

The report, which identified the group by the pejorative "Bengalis" gave no date for the arrests, but local media quoted police sources as saying they took place the morning of 20 December.

Widely viewed as interlopers from Bangladesh, members of the mostly Muslim minority group are denied citizenship — along with access to healthcare and education — and often require permission to travel.

A local court sentenced 35 of the group to five years in jail for traveling without documents, the Global New Light reported, adding that 13 under the age of 18 would be detained at a "training school" until they were 20.

Thousands of Rohingya risk their lives each year making perilous journeys to reach Malaysia or Indonesia.