Government Prioritizes Child Repatriation From Malaysian Detention

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha said the Indonesian government prioritizes repatriation of children and residents of vulnerable groups from the Malaysian Immigration Detention Center (DTI)/Detention Center.

"Several times of opportunity, we have used special charter planes to repatriate, especially our citizens who come from vulnerable groups, namely children, women, and our sick citizens who are in depots," said Judha as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, July 13.

As for other Indonesian citizens who are still in Malaysian Detention, the Indonesian government is discussing the mechanism for repatriation together with the Malaysian government.

A total of 2,959 Indonesian citizens face prolonged detention indefinitely. They had previously finished serving their sentence and were preparing to be deported.

Of the 2,959 Indonesian citizens detained in DTI Malaysia, 2,160 were male, 697 were female, and 102 were children under the age of 17.

Most of the children who are in Malaysian Detention are not because of committing crimes, but following their parents.

"Those who are vulnerable groups, yes, we will immediately handle it. That's what we will return immediately at the expense of the Indonesian government," said Judha.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 13, 2023 facilitated the repatriation of 154 Indonesian citizens/Indonesian Migrant Workers who were previously detained in various Malaysian Immigration Detentions and who are in the residence of the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) Kuala Lumpur.

The Indonesian Indonesian citizens/migrant workers were returned to the country using Garuda Indonesia planes and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on the same day, April 13, 2023.

The repatriation of Indonesian citizens/migrant workers of vulnerable groups from Malaysia is the result of cross-ministerial/institutional cooperation, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs, Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), and implementing elements at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

"However, of course in the future we need a sustainable (sustainable) solution and also doable (can be done) so that this can be overcome together between Indonesia and Malaysia," said Judha.