Former Member Of The Indramayu DPRD Becomes A Victim Of TIP In Myanmar, Work 20 Hours/Day Without Wage

Yuli Asmi when giving a statement in Indramayu, West Java, Thursday (10/10/2024), regarding her husband, Robiin, who is suspected of being a victim of TIP. (ANTARA/Fathnur Rohman)

JAKARTA - The Indramayu Regency Government, West Java, is trying to repatriate a former member of the Indramayu DPRD for the 2014-2019 period named Robiin, who is suspected of being a victim of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) and is now on the border of Myanmar.

Head of the Manpower Placement Division (Pentaker) of the Indramayu Regency Manpower Office (Disnaker) Asep Kurniawan in Indramayu, said Robiin was reported to have experienced confinement and torture in the country.

The Indramayu Regency Government, he said, immediately sent an official letter to the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in the country and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) to accelerate Robiin's repatriation efforts.

"We have met the victim's wife, Mrs. Yuli, who conveyed the latest conditions. Currently, the Indramayu Regency Government is ready to help with all necessary efforts," Asep said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 10.

In addition to writing, his party also continues to coordinate with other relevant agencies so that the process of evacuating victims can be realized immediately.

Asep explained that this incident was most likely a case of trafficking in persons, because the process of recruiting victims to work abroad was not in accordance with procedures.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that the local government is still trying its best so that this case is resolved immediately and the victim can return to Indonesia in a safe condition.

Our priority is the repatriation of victims. This is a TIP allegation, but the mechanism is not as usual, because it involves recruitment through social media which is difficult to track, "he said.

Meanwhile, Yuli Asmi, Robiin's wife, revealed that her husband was recruited through social media Facebook in September 2023 to work as an HRD admin at a textile company in Thailand.

But in reality, he continued, Robiin was smuggled into Myanmar's borders to be exploited and forced to work in the online scamming sector.

"Initially my husband was promised a salary of Rp. 16 million per month, bonuses, leave, and a work visa was made. However, it turned out that he was being held at the Myanmar border and was forced to work as part of an online fraud," he said.

Yuli said that while in Myanmar, Robiin was required to work 18 to 20 hours per day without wages, with a very strict daily target.

According to him, if the target is not met, Robiin will be physically punished, including being hit with a wooden block and electrocuted.

"Finally, my husband contacted his colleague on October 7, 2024, asking for help to be evacuated immediately," he said.

Yuli explained that his family is now in a difficult condition. Not only is her husband suspected of being a victim of TIP, but also because he has to take over as a breadwinner to support his children.

She hopes that the government can immediately evacuate her husband, so that he can return to Indonesia.

"His condition is very bad, not only because of physical violence. He is often not fed for three consecutive days if he does not achieve the target," he said.