Foreign Minister: There Is No Indication Of The Existence Of Indonesian Citizen Gangs In Japan

JAKARTA - Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi said that his party had not found any indications of a gang of Indonesian citizen workers (WNI) in Japan.

He said this was obtained after communicating with the Indonesian Consul General (Konjen) Osaka John Tjahjanto Boestami regarding a viral video showing a crowd of Indonesian migrant workers in Osaka allegedly creating a gang that could potentially disrupt order.

"From our communication with our Consul General in Osaka, he said that so far there has been no indication of a community of migrant workers or migrants who created an Indonesian gang in Japan," said Retno as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, September 5.

However, he did not deny that a number of Indonesian migrant workers in Osaka, Japan, often gather within reasonable limits when they are free in a number of areas of the city.

"The Consul General also said that usually during holidays or weekends there are indeed a number of Indonesian communities gathered in the Dotonburi and Namba areas in Osaka, in the amount and atmosphere that are usually normal to control and not disturb public order," he said.

He also said that the Indonesian Consul General Osaka John Tjahjanto Boestami was confirming the truth of the viral video showing a crowd of Indonesian migrant workers in Osaka who allegedly created the gang.

"Currently what Mr. Consul General is doing is to determine whether the video circulating is true or there are edits," he said.

In addition, Foreign Minister Retno said that the Indonesian Consul General Osaka had also communicated with Indonesian citizens in the area to urge other Indonesian citizens to comply with local regulations.

"Mr. Konjen has moved and has contacted Indonesian citizen figures as well as to remind that we are in another place where we should also comply with local regulations," he said.

Shortly after the video was widely circulated on social media, Retno said that his party immediately had contact with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Tokyo, Japan, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka (KJRI Osaka).

"Actually, our Consul General in Osaka has reported it first," he said.

Previously, a number of videos circulated on social media showing a group of youths suspected of being Indonesian citizens wearing black clothes gathered sitting on the streets of the Namba area, Osaka.

Another video also shows a person wearing a black jacket, masks and glasses brandishing a sickle, as well as two other youths riding a bicycle carrying a flag so that it is considered disturbing to local residents.