Police And Komnas HAM Investigate Alleged Slavery At Langkat Regent's House

Langkat Regent's House/Photo: SPECIAL

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s sting operation (OTT) did not only reveal bribery practices carried out by the inactive Langkat Regent.

From this activity, it was discovered that he had an iron cage to confine oil palm plantation workers in his home, which led to allegations of human trafficking and slavery practices.

In fact, this finding led the Indonesian Association for Sovereign Migrant Workers, Migrant Care to come to the National Commission for Human Rights (HAM) to submit a report. Furthermore, this report will be followed up by sending an investigation team.

The head of the Migrant Care Migration Study Center, Anis Hidayah, revealed that around 40 palm oil workers who were confined to Terbit Plan's house were subjected to cruel treatment. He even suspected this act as a form of modern slavery.

"There are oil palm workers who work in their fields. In fact, we found seven cruel treatments suspected of being a form of modern slavery and human trafficking," said Anis at the Komnas HAM Office, Jalan Latuharhary, Central Jakarta, Monday, January 24.

He then detailed the cruel treatment of the dozens of oil palm plantation workers. First, they were locked in an iron cage like an iron prison that was locked on the outside.

He said the iron cage became a place to accommodate workers in oil palm plantations. "Third, they do not have access anywhere," he said.

"Fourthly, they were tortured by beatings, bruising, and wounds. Fifth, they were fed improperly only twice a day," added Anis.

Next while working, they are not paid. Lastly, they cannot communicate with outsiders.

"So based on the case, we report it to Komnas HAM. Because in principle it is very heinous," he said.

"And I just found out that there are regional heads who are supposed to protect their citizens but instead use their powers arbitrarily to commit crimes that violate the principles of human rights, anti-torture, and anti-trafficking," Anis added.

Komnas HAM is ready to send an investigation team

The report regarding the iron cage containing the oil palm plantation workers at the Terbit Plan's house was then responded to by Komnas HAM. Komnas HAM commissioner Muhammad Choirul Anam said his party would send a team to investigate.

"We will immediately send a team there, to North Sumatra and continue to communicate with various parties," he said.

The dispatch of this team must be done quickly so that the victims receive protection. Moreover, there are allegations of torture in the findings.

In addition, the team he sent will dig up a number of question marks regarding the existence of the iron cage. For example, what is the exact number of workers locked up and where do they come from?

"Don't lose one tooth today, because it took us a long time to respond, tomorrow we will lose two or three teeth. The sooner the better the prevention," said Anam.

Police will conduct a search

Not only Komnas HAM, the police are also paying attention to the findings of human cages at Terbit Plan's house. Karo Penmas, Public Relations Division of the Police, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, even said that the police would investigate whether or not this finding was based on a criminal act of trafficking in persons or human trafficking.

"I'll check first whether there is a trafficking relationship," said Karo Penmas, Public Relations Division of the National Police, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, to reporters on Monday, January 24.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police, Kombes Hadi Wahyudi, said that during a search by the KPK, 27 people were found inside the prison-like building.

He then explained that the prison-like building had existed since 2012. In fact, there were two human cages inside the Terbit house complex.

Although it was stated that this cage was used as a rehabilitation place for people addicted to drugs, the police said the building was not licensed.

"Initial information was used as a place of rehabilitation for people who are addicted to drugs," said Kombes Hadi in Medan, Monday, January 24.

"In 2017, BNNK Langkat, had coordinated there, if it was used as a place of rehabilitation, let it be given official permission. But until last second, it didn't exist," he asserted.

Furthermore, a joint team from the North Sumatra Police is conducting an in-depth investigation and gathering of information regarding the existence of a prison-like building in the private residence of the Published Wind War Plan.

"This is being investigated, related to developing information, this continues to be explored and the team is working to find facts on the ground. Information can be provided by the community," explained Hadi.

"The cell is there, in the form of a detention room, that's true. This team is currently investigating. If it is suspected of employing detained employees, until now all information is still being investigated. Some say they work on plantations every morning," he said.