1 month ago
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November 30, 2024 | 03:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Indonesian Embassies in Yangon and Bangkok, successfully facilitated the release of 21 Indonesian nationals (WNI) who were victims of human trafficking in the conflict area of Myawaddy, Myanmar.
The Indonesian nationals arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday night and were released on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
The victims were recruited with the promise of jobs in Thailand between March and July 2024. However, upon arrival, they were kidnapped and forced to work as online scammers and online gamblers in Myawaddy.
During this time, they were also subjected to various forms of physical violence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the first report on the case of the 21 Indonesian nationals in August 2024. Shortly thereafter, the Ministry coordinated with the Indonesian Embassies in Yangon and Bangkok to undertake various efforts for their release in close cooperation with the relevant authorities in Myanmar and Thailand.
Steps taken included sending a diplomatic note to the Myanmar government, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Myanmar police, meeting with local authorities, and intensive communication with local networks in Myawaddy.
The ministry also encouraged bilateral and regional cooperation to ensure the safety of the victims.
Finally, on October 15, 2024, these 21 Indonesian nationals were successfully released and brought to Thailand by land. Upon arrival in Thailand, they underwent screening through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) coordinated by the Thai government.
In mid-November, the results of the process determined that they met the criteria to be trafficking victims, allowing them to be repatriated to Indonesia with government assistance.
Upon arrival in Indonesia, the victims were immediately handed over to the Ministry of Social Affairs for further assistance and rehabilitation.
The victims were known to be from various regions in Indonesia, including West Java, Riau Islands, North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung Islands, Jakarta, Banten, and West Kalimantan.
From 2020 to November 2024, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, together with Indonesian representatives, has resolved 5,118 cases of online fraud in nine countries.
Specifically for cases in Myanmar since 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has successfully resolved 196 cases of Indonesian nationals trapped in online scam businesses in the conflict area of Myawaddy. However, new cases continue to emerge. To date, there are still 129 similar cases pending resolution.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs again urges all Indonesian nationals to be more cautious when accepting job offers abroad, especially in Southeast Asia, to avoid the risk of becoming victims of human trafficking or forced labor.
Editor's Choice: Human Trafficking in Myanmar: Indonesia Receives 44 Reports of Citizens Stuck in Conflict Area
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