Photo credit: Fox 17
Migrant Care has urged the Indonesian government to take immediate preventive action after several cases of human trafficking(TPPO) against dozens of Indonesian migrant workers happened in Myanmar.
Tempo. Co reports that Wahyu Susilo, Migrant Care’s Executive Director, emphasized the importance of a comprehensive approach to addressing this issue, “First, of course, dissemination about the dangers of this case, because this has been experienced by thousands of people who work there,” he said on Saturday.
Second, the government needs to streamline the TPPO task force. “I don’t see the role of the TPPO task force in this online scamming case, but I have seen their active role,” he said.
He also revealed that the ASEAN declaration on the prevention of trafficking in the digital technology abuse sector, issued when Indonesia became chair last year, has not received any follow-up. He said it was important to make the ASEAN declaration not only a document but also the basis for concrete actions, including bilateral agreements and cooperation between ASEAN police.
Nur Harsono, Migrant Care’s Legal Aid Coordinator, also asked the government to take the same steps: maximize socialization and strengthen the task force team. He encouraged the government to work with religious leaders, youth, women, and universities across Indonesia to educate people about the dangers of TPPO and strengthen ASEAN cooperation in eradicating TPPO.
There was a video in which dozens of Indonesian citizens were victims of TPPO in Myanmar recently. They were allegedly caught in a case of online fraud. In the video, some Indonesians are seen in a room saying that they have become victims of trafficking in Myanmar after receiving a job offer in Thailand.
In the 2-minute 11-second video, they said they had been held captive and forced for work for 15 hours a day and suffered physical abuse such as being beaten and electrocuted. They also stated that they did not get proper food.
The Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, confirmed the video. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently handling the TPPO case.
