You two Brazilians who were enslaved In Myanmar, Asia, they said they were relieved shortly after landing on Wednesday afternoon (19) at Guarulhos International Airport.
The victims of human trafficking, Luckas Viana dos Santos, 31, and Phelipe de Moura Ferreira, 26, were seduced by employment promises in Thailand, but ended up kidnapped and taken to Myawaddy, the city of Myanmar, a country that lives in Civil War.
Pressured, they said they were obliged, by a local mafia of Chinese origin, to apply financial blows by WhatsApp to raise funds for the organization. If they could not achieve goals, they were tortured.
“Very difficult to be there. They beat us almost every day. I had a shock machine too. We suffered a lot. These here are brands of the handcuffs, we would stay 17 hours trapped like this, ”said Luckas dos Santos.
“[Agora] I’m happy, I’m happy to be here with my mother. I know she was very worried, ”he added.
Earlier, Luckas worked in the Philippines, in a game company, and then at a hostel in Thailand. Until he found a job proposal of $ 8,000 a month and decided to accept, in October last year.
“I ask people to see the opportunities they are receiving well, because, as here in Brazil the salary is not so good, the illusion is, because it is like five, six times more [o salário]. And in this case, I accepted [a proposta] Because I was already in Thailand and I was looking for something there. A friend sent me in the group, and I thought it was serious, ”he said.
Torture and escape plan
The Brazilians said they tried to escape the place where they were imprisoned, but ended up being caught and tortured. The complex where they stayed was watched by about 300 armed men.
“We couldn’t escape. We swayed the plan, but in this plane we had to climb three hills and run another 22 kilometers to try to cross a river to reach Thailand. I managed to climb a lot. On the third hill came a guard with a knife and sent me back. And that was it. They took everyone, ”said Phelipe.
“Then, they beat us, so much so that I have here [mostrando um hematoma]. My legs are all purple too. They beat us. And they were threatening us, saying that we were never going to leave there, that we would die, ”he added.
According to Phelipe, their departure from the site occurred with the help of the NGO Exodus Road Brasil and an agreement with the Democratic Buddhist Army Karen (DKBA), armed rebel group that dominates the region where the mafia that enslaved Brazilians.
The young man expected more support from the Brazilian authorities in the rescue operation and said the return tickets were paid by Itamaraty.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sought on Wednesday (19), but has not yet manifested. On the 12th, in a statement, the ministry said that, through the embassies in Yangon, Myanmar, and Bangkok, Thailand, he had been requesting the efforts of the competent authorities since October last year for the release of Brazilians.
Itamaraty added that it seeks to make Brazilians aware of employment abroad about the risks of trafficking and smuggling people, with online guides and reports on the dangers of job offerings in Southeast Asia.
>> Watch on TV Brasil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hilep5Azifm