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March 18, 2025 | 01:32 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A total of 400 Indonesian citizens (WNI) who fell victim to an online scam in Myawaddy, Myanmar, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
They were flown in from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok after undergoing health screenings and the National Referral Mechanism process in Mae Sot, Thailand.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan stated that the Indonesian government worked with Thailand and China to facilitate their return. These 400 individuals are part of a total of 554 Indonesian citizens scheduled for repatriation this week.
"A total of 554 Indonesian citizens, consisting of 449 men and 105 women, have fallen victim to large-scale online scamming in the Myawaddy area," said Budi Gunawan during a press conference at the VVIP Building of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Budi explained that the total of 400 Indonesian citizens were divided into two flights, with 200 individuals scheduled to return at 9:00 AM and another 200 at 11:00 AM Western Indonesia Time. Meanwhile, another 154 Indonesian citizens will be repatriated on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Furthermore, Budi stated that the Indonesian citizens who were victims of the online scam will be temporarily accommodated at the Haji Pondok Gede Dormitory for three days. He also ensured that the Indonesian government will provide logistics and facilities to meet the needs of these citizens.
Budi mentioned that the government will also provide medical, including psychological, services to aid in the recovery of these citizens. He also stated that these citizens will be examined to determine if they were involved in human trafficking crimes.
The repatriation of Indonesian citizens from Mywaddy was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, the Minister of Manpower and Migrant Protection, Abdul Kadir Kading, the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, and the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto.
According to the records of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, out of the 400 evacuated Indonesian citizens, there were 313 men and 87 women, with five women being pregnant. The citizens arrived in good health.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, led the repatriation to Jakarta.
The 400 Indonesian citizens came from 21 provinces, with the majority originating from North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Java, Jakarta, and North Sulawesi.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Protection Team for Indonesian Citizens along with the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok and Yangon, as well as the Indonesian National Police's Interpol Office, have conducted identification, escort, and support for the citizens from Myawaddy to their home country.
The process of transferring the citizens from Myawaddy was assisted by intensive coordination and full support from the authorities of Thailand and Myanmar.
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