Hand over the Status of Indonesian Citizens in Cambodia to the Authorized Authorities, Foreign Minister Sugiono: What Matters is Service for Them

JAKARTA - Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said that serving Indonesian citizens (WNI) who left the online fraud centers (scam centers) in Cambodia was a priority for the ministry he led, handing over the status of whether they were victims of Human Trafficking (TPPO) or not to the authorities.

More than 2,400 Indonesian citizens reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, after leaving the scam center in various regions in Cambodia, in line with the increased law enforcement efforts taken by the local authorities since mid-month.

Speaking after a meeting with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex, Foreign Minister Sugiono said he had instructed the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh "to conduct data collection, verification of affected Indonesian citizens, because many of them have left their jobs after there was a decision from the Cambodian government to take action against online scam activities."

"We are still data. Regarding law enforcement, we will leave it to law enforcement," said the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday (27/1).

"What is important for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to be able to verify the Indonesian citizens who are affected, provide services to them, consular services to them," he said.

Previously, the Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto said that as the Cambodian authorities increased their efforts to tackle online scams in recent years, the efforts were intensified since January 16.

"Recently, there have been arrests of several masterminds and main managers of scam centers," said Ambassador Santo in an online press statement last week.

With the arrest, many scam centers closed down their operations and foreign nationals working at these places were allowed to leave.

"Many are looking for a mechanism to return to their country, including Indonesian citizens," explained Ambassador Santo, regarding the surge in Indonesian citizens who came to report to the Indonesian Embassy.

"This is massive, not just Indonesia. There are (workers from scam centers) from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Pakistan, India, even from Japan, South Korea, to unpredictable countries like Turkey," he said.

The ambassador said that this scam center is located in Phnom Penh, around Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kampot to Mondulkiri which is closer to Vietnam.

The Ambassador of Santo confirmed that the surge in Indonesian citizens who reported this was not a new recruit, even some of them had repeatedly come to Cambodia.

"This is not because of new recruits, but those who have been there, they were raided in terms of it. That's why there are many. Some are only a month in Cambodia, some have been there for three months, some for a year, two years, three years. Some have just come to Cambodia, some have come twice and this morning, some have come to Cambodia three times," said the Indonesian Ambassador.

For comparison, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh said that throughout last year, it handled 5,006 cases of Indonesian citizens.

Regarding the status of these Indonesian citizens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with relevant parties since their arrival in the country after being repatriated from Cambodia.

Speaking in an online press conference last week, the Acting Director of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heni Hamidah, explained that her party would coordinate with the Indonesian Ministry of Protection of Migrant Workers and the Ministry of Social Affairs to handle the Indonesian citizens upon their arrival in the country.

Meanwhile, for the identification of whether they are TPPO victims or not, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with the Ministry of Political and Security Affairs, said Heni.

"The pick-up in Indonesia will be carried out by KP2MI and the Ministry of Social Affairs, after the shelter and subsequent assessment, including an in-depth assessment by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Police," said Heni, emphasizing the identification process is important to ensure proper handling for each individual.