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PROTECTION of migrant workers from the dangers of human trafficking (TPPO) must be a primary concern, considering their significant contribution to quality and inclusive economic growth in ASEAN. This was conveyed by Director General of Immigration Silmy Karim at the 27th Meeting of ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Division of The Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) in Nha Trang – Vietnam, Wednesday (14/8).

“Indonesia, with its abundant human resource potential, is an easy target for human trafficking syndicates in ASEAN, where more than 85% of its victims are smuggled into, from, and within the region,” said Silmy.

During the 2020-2023 period, 2,434 cases related to online scams were recorded as being handled by Indonesian Representatives in the Southeast Asia Region, including 1,233 people in Cambodia, 205 people in Myanmar, 469 people in the Philippines, 276 people in Laos, 187 people in Thailand, 34 people in Vietnam, and 30 people in Malaysia.

The number has increased sharply compared to the previous year. In 2021, there were 116 cases recorded from Cambodia, and 77 cases in Myanmar. Cambodia is the country with the most cases in Southeast Asia, with an increase in the number of cases up to 8 times.

The new mode of human trafficking cases involving Indonesian citizens is online fraud schemes (online scamming) such as fake investments, love scams, money laundering, and others.

The victims were recruited and then ensnared by promises of lucrative jobs in neighboring countries, but ended up in a trap of exploitation.

Forms of labor exploitation experienced include long working hours, document retention, excessive fines, and very limited movement and communication restrictions, as well as threats and acts of violence by the company against Indonesian citizens.

Also read: Chief of Police: Bureaucracy is an Obstacle to Arresting TPPO Perpetrators Who Flee Abroad

“The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, has specifically instructed law enforcement officers to prevent and eradicate transnational crimes such as human smuggling from Indonesia to overseas. In this case, the Directorate General of Immigration is making efforts to prevent and eradicate human smuggling through regional and international cooperation,” he continued.

Cooperation among ASEAN member countries has made a significant contribution to efforts to repatriate Indonesian citizens who are victims of human trafficking.

In 2022, around 484 Indonesian citizens have been repatriated from Cambodia, including 202 by charter plane, as well as 23 Indonesian citizens from Laos.

Also read: ASEAN Foreign Ministers Discuss Issues from Myanmar to Human Trafficking

In July 2023, 10 Indonesian citizens were repatriated from Cambodia with the assistance of the Cambodian Government, while 26 other Indonesian citizens were repatriated from Myanmar with the assistance of the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon after being suspected of being victims of human trafficking.

It didn’t stop there, on June 26, 2023, Indonesian Immigration together with the Philippine Government carried out a rescue operation for 137 Indonesian citizens who were trapped in an online fraud company.

“We hope that DGICM, especially the ASEAN Head of Special Unit on People Smuggling forum, will provide benefits in resolving problems in the ASEAN region, especially the problem of human smuggling,” concluded the Director General of Immigration.

The forum agreed on four documents that became new guidelines proposed by Laos as the chair of the AMMTC (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime) and SOMTC (Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime) to improve coordination and cooperation mechanisms in combating transnational crime in the ASEAN region.

The meeting also decided that the 28th DGICM will be held in Brunei Darussalam. The Land of Sultans has expressed its readiness to host in 2025. (RO/Z-1)