JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, said his party would do its best to support the return of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who came to report to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh to their homeland, as the number continues to increase.
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh handled 2,117 Indonesian citizens who came directly to the Indonesian Embassy and requested facilitation for their return to Indonesia in the last week, January 16-23, 2026. The number is expected to continue to increase.
On January 22, 2026, there were 224 additional Indonesian citizens, and on January 23, 2026, until 17.00, another 164 Indonesian citizens, so that the total handled reached 2,117 Indonesian citizens.
This surge is a direct impact of the raids carried out by the Cambodian Government on online fraud centers, which caused many foreign nationals, including Indonesian citizens, to leave the syndicate location. Several foreign embassies in Phnom Penh were also filled with hundreds of their citizens.
Ambassador Santo Darmosumarto emphasized that the Indonesian Embassy continues to strive to accelerate the return of Indonesian citizens.
"The Indonesian Embassy is currently coordinating intensively with Cambodian authorities so that Indonesian citizens can accelerate the issuance of exit permits and immigration penalties," said the Indonesian Ambassador, launching the statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Friday (23/1).
Further explained, the process of data collection, case assessment, and issuance of a Passport Travel Letter (SPLP) for Indonesian citizens who do not have a passport is also being carried out gradually.
In order to accelerate the entire handling process, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh received additional human resources support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There will also be reinforcement in the form of human resources and equipment support from the Ministry of Immigration and Correction through the Directorate General of Immigration.
For Indonesian citizens who have passports and visas that are still valid, they have been encouraged to immediately buy tickets independently. Dozens of Indonesian citizens have bought tickets and will soon return to their homeland in the near future.
In fact, not a few have returned to Indonesia without informing the Indonesian Embassy.
The Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh appealed to Indonesian citizens to be patient and orderly in following all repatriation processes.
"The Indonesian Embassy will do its best for every Indonesian who asks for facilitation," said Ambassador Santo, committed.
The large number of Indonesian citizens certainly adds to the complexity of handling cases. Throughout 2025, the Indonesian Embassy handled 5,088 Indonesian citizen cases or an average of 15-30 cases per day.
This number is very far from the last week, where it reached 520 new complaints in one day.
In addition, Indonesian citizens are also asked to always be alert to fraud in the name of the Indonesian Embassy. Indonesian Embassy services are not charged, except for official SPLP fees, in accordance with existing regulations.
The Indonesian Embassy also urged Indonesian citizens to maintain communication and inform their relatives and colleagues in their homeland of their condition, so that their families can support their return to Indonesia.
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