6 hours ago
9
March 18, 2025 | 07:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan revealed that 554 Indonesian citizens who fell victim to online scams in Myawaddy, Myanmar, were subjected to violence by the companies employing them. The minister said these Indonesians worked under intense pressure at an online scam syndicate’s headquarters, where they faced torture—including beatings and electric shocks—if they failed to meet work targets.
"They were even threatened with having their organs harvested if they couldn’t meet the targets set by the cartel or bosses," Budi Gunawan stated during a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Budi added that the companies confiscated the victims’ passports and prohibited them from communicating with anyone, including family members. Based on evidence and indications gathered, he suspects hostage-taking and a massive online scam mafia network are involved.
Minister of Migrant Workers’ Protection Abdul Kadir Karding confirmed the exploitation and torture of these Indonesians. At the same press conference, he noted they were often forced to work with minimal rest and faced physical attacks if their performance fell short of expectations. He recounted meeting a victim who had suffered injuries to their jaw and arm from the violence.
When asked about allegations of organ trafficking, Abdul said he could not yet confirm it. "As of today, we don’t have the data," he admitted.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 400 Indonesians targeted by online scams in Myawaddy arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang. They were flown from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok after undergoing health screenings and the National Referral Mechanism process in Mae Sot, Thailand.
Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, and Deputy Interior Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto were present at the airport for the victims’ arrival.
According to Foreign Ministry records, the group consisted of 313 men and 87 women, including five who were pregnant. All arrived in healthy condition. The Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, personally led the repatriation effort to Jakarta.
These 400 individuals hailed from 21 provinces, with the majority from North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Java, Jakarta, and North Sulawesi.
The Foreign Ministry’s WNI Protection Team, alongside the Indonesian Embassies in Bangkok and Yangon and the National Police’s International Relations Division, identified, escorted, and accompanied the victims from Myawaddy back to Indonesia. The repatriation process was made possible with full support and assistance from Thai and Myanmar authorities through intensive coordination.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesia to Question More than 500 Citizens Freed from Myanmar Scam Centers
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesian Scam Victims in Myanmar Face Torture, Organ Trafficking Threats
2 jam lalu
Indonesian scam victims who failed to meet their work targets were subjected to torture, including beatings and electric shocks.
Indonesia to Question More than 500 Citizens Freed from Myanmar Scam Centers
3 jam lalu
Myanmar's Myawaddy scam centers are part of a Southeast Asia network involving criminal gangs trafficking hundreds of thousands of people.
Indonesian Scam Victims Return from Myanmar, Foreign Minister Speaks on Tricky Rescue Efforts
4 jam lalu
Foreign Minister Sugiono welcomes the arrival of Indonesian citizens who fell victim to an online scam in Myanmar
Gov't Promises Aid for 400 Scam Victims Arriving in Indonesia from Myanmar
6 jam lalu
The government will provide medical, including psychological, services to aid in the recovery of these online scam victims.
400 Indonesian Victims of Online Scam Exploitation Rescued from Myanmar
9 jam lalu
The 400 Indonesian nationals who fell victim to online scam exploitation consist of 313 men and 87 women. All of them are in good health.
Thailand Vows to Help Repatriate Indonesian Human Trafficking Victims from Myanmar Border
4 hari lalu
Foreign Minister Sugiono and the Thai Ambassador to Indonesia met to discuss various matters, including the repatriation of Indonesians trapped in human trafficking at the border with Myanmar.
UN Migration Agency Says Aid to Rohingya in Indonesia Reinstated
7 hari lalu
The United Nations' migration agency has reinstated humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees in Indonesia.
UN Food Agency Seeks Urgent Funding to Avoid Aid Cuts to Rohingya
10 hari lalu
Reuters reported on Wednesday that the United Nations would have to cut food rations to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Ministry: 525 Indonesians Involved in Online Scam, Stuck in Myanmar's Myawaddy
11 hari lalu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that as many as 525 Indonesian citizens are involved in online scam. They are currently trapped in Myanmar.
Indonesia Repatriates 84 Citizens from Myanmar Online Scam Operations
18 hari lalu
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs repatriated 84 Indonesian nationals involved in online scam practices from Myawaddy in Myanmar.
