The Indonesian Ambassador Ensured That Hundreds Of Indonesian Citizens Caught In Operations In Cambodia Were Protected Their Rights

Indonesian Ambassador Santo Darmosumarto. (Source: Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh)

JAKARTA - Indonesia fully supports the efforts to enforce the Cambodian government's law in eradicating online fraud, but on the other hand emphasizes that the protection of the rights of Indonesian citizens (WNI) caught by the operation remains protected.

This was conveyed by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto when meeting with the Senior Minister and Head of the Secretariat Committee to Combat Online Scams (CCOS) Cambodia Chhay Sinarith on Monday.

In this meeting, the two discussed cooperation in dealing with online fraud crimes, as well as post-operational developments in the eradication held by the Cambodian Government last week.

Operations held simultaneously in 15 provinces in Cambodia since July 14 have succeeded in attracting 2,780 foreign nationals such as from China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, South Korea, Pakistan, including Indonesia where 339 Indonesian citizens were caught in operations in a number of provinces.

Ambassador Santo said the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh support efforts to eradicate online fraud. On the other hand, he emphasized the importance of the basic rights of Indonesian citizens who were caught in the operation to remain protected.

"We fully support the efforts to enforce the law of the Cambodian government," he said in a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh as quoted on July 22.

"At the same time, we also have an interest in ensuring that Indonesian citizens who are currently in the handling of the authority can be given their rights, including consular access and clear legal information," said Ambassador Santo.

The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh moved quickly since the news regarding this operation emerged in Cambodian media. Intensive communication is carried out with the police in the province where there are many Indonesian communities.

Based on initial information from the Poipet Provincial Police, where 271 Indonesian citizens were caught, it is regrettable that there was an uncooperative attitude from a number of Indonesian citizens during the initial examination, including falsifying names and other information.

However, the police ensured to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh that all Indonesian citizens were caught in a safe and good condition.

The Indonesian government respects the law enforcement measures taken by the Cambodian Government, urging the Indonesian people not to be tempted to work non-procedurally abroad, especially those related to illegal activities, because they will face legal consequences in the local country.