There Is A Circulation Of More Than Rp. 2000 Trillion In Modern Slavery In The World

Palm oil workers suspected of being locked up in the house of the inactive Langkat Regent Published the Wind War Plan (Photo: By courtesy)

JAKARTA - The news about the alleged slavery carried out by the Regent of Langkat, published in the Wind War Plan, is certainly very surprising. In the midst of a modern society that is technology and information literate, outrages against humanity still occur.

The allegation of slavery and human trafficking carried out by Warin Angin was discovered when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) carried out a Hand Catching Operation (OTT) at his private home in Raja Tengah Village, Kuala Sub-district, Langkat Regency on Monday morning 24 January 2022. On the home page it was found two buildings similar to prison cells, which were allegedly used to hold the oil palm plantation workers belonging to Warin Angin.

In addition to allegations of practicing slavery, the inactive Langkat Regent is also suspected of human trafficking. Activities that are categorized as crimes against humanity are commonly known as modern slavery.

Capital owners use force, coercion, or deception against people who want to find work. The owner of the capital can use various kinds of lure, false promises, manipulation, and violence with the aim of forcing the victim to keep working for him.

The prison-like cell at the Langkat Regent's house is deactivated, a Plan to Ward the Winds is published which is suspected of carrying out slavery activities (Photo: By courtesy)

According to data from notforsalecampaign.org, currently worldwide an estimated 45.8 million people are trapped in modern slavery or human trafficking. That number includes 10 million children, 15.4 million people in forced marriages, and 4.8 million people in forced sexual exploitation. However, it is difficult to determine precise statistics, because so many cases of modern slavery go unreported.

Very Profitable Economically

For the perpetrators of modern slavery, this evil activity is very profitable economically. Still according to data notforsalecampaign.org, human trafficking activities generate money of 150 billion US dollars per year for the perpetrators. That amount is greater than Rp. 2000 trillion!

Many legal signs have been ratified by various countries in the world to prevent the activities of modern slavery or human trafficking. Some of them are: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations Protocol to Suppress, Prevent and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, and more.

However, modern slavery activities still occur, instead showing a rising, not decreasing, curve. Huge profits and economic inequality in various countries are suspected as conditions that perpetuate the existence of slavery activities in the world.

“This is a global crisis, because there is an incredible amount of human suffering. This crime is a violation of human rights. This is an affront to human dignity," said Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, as quoted by VOA.

In July 2021, the US State Department released a list of countries with the worst reputations in the world for the war on human trafficking. There are 17 countries according to Uncle Sam's country categorized in tier 3, or the lowest level. These countries are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Myanmar, China, Comoros, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Cuba, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Guinea Bissau and Malaysia.

These countries are seen as not trying to prevent human trafficking activities at all. How about Indonesia?

Modern Slavery in Indonesia

The United States included Indonesia in tier 2, or a level better than the 17 countries mentioned above. Indonesia is at the same level as Cyprus, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, Belarus, Burundi, Lesotho, and Papua New Guinea. These countries are seen as already trying to prevent human trafficking and modern slavery, even though they have not met the established international standards.

“The Indonesian government does not fully meet the minimum standards for human trafficking, but makes significant efforts to enforce them. The government shows increased efforts compared to the previous reporting period, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anti-trafficking capacity. Therefore, Indonesia remains in tier 2," reads an official statement from the US Department of State.

Illustration of the slave trade in the past. (Photo: Thoughtco)

Commissioner for the Study and Research of Komnas HAM, Sandrayati Moniaga, revealed that the slavery practices that still exist in Indonesia are modern slavery and even conventional slavery.

"The reality of slavery in Indonesia is still happening, the phenomenon is like an iceberg that is only visible on the surface, the Benjina and Sumba cases for example," he said when he was a resource person in the webinar "Modern Slavery Now: Trafficking in Persons in Indonesia in the Context of a Pandemic and Technological Advances" in December 2, 2021.

The emergence of the case of alleged slavery by the Regent of Langkat is not active, is a reminder that crimes against humanity are still happening in Indonesia. It is even carried out by state civil officials, regional leaders who are supposed to protect the interests of their people.

To end the human tragedy of modern slavery and human trafficking, a multidimensional approach is needed that addresses the economic, social, cultural, and legal realities that contribute to problems around the world.