The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs And The Indonesian Embassy In Yangon Ensure That Indonesian Citizens Detained By Myanmar Authorities Are Not Alone

Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon ensure that Indonesian citizens (WNI) detained by the Myanmar authorities are alone facing the situation they are experiencing, from the start until now continue to provide assistance.

The existence of Indonesian citizens detained by the Myanmar authorities was revealed when the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono attended a hearing with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives on Monday.

Member of Commission I DPR RI Abraham Sridjaja revealed that an Indonesian citizen was detained by the Myanmar military junta for charges related to rebel groups.

The Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, in a ministry statement said that his party and the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon were handling the case of an Indonesian citizen with the initials AP who was arrested by the Myanmar authorities on December 20, 2024.

"AP is accused of entering Myanmar illegally and then holding a meeting with armed groups categorized as banned organizations by local authorities," he explained in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, July 1.

Furthermore, it was explained that AP was charged with violating the Anti-Terrorism Law, the 1947 Immigration Law, and Section 17(2) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

"Since the beginning of the arrest, the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon has carried out various protection efforts, including sending diplomatic notes, accessing consular and direct assistance during the examination, ensuring the defense of lawyers and facilitating communication between AP and his family," explained Judha.

After going through the court process, AP was sentenced to seven years in prison. Currently AP is serving a prison sentence at Insein Prison, Yangon, Myanmar.

After the verdict has permanent legal force (inkracht), non-litigation efforts were also carried out by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon through facilitating a request for pardon from the family.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon will continue to monitor AP's condition while serving a prison sentence," said Judha.