Meeting 62 Indonesians At The Indonesian Embassy In Phnom Penh, Foreign Minister Reno Invites A Campaign To Prevent Human Trafficking With The Lure Of Jobs

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi's meeting with Indonesian citizens in Cambodia. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi ensured that the safety of Indonesian citizens (WNI) was the government's priority, as well as campaigning for the prevention of human trafficking.

This was conveyed by Foreign Minister Retnom when meeting 62 Indonesian citizens who were victims of fraud and human trafficking who worked for online scam companies in Sinhanoukville, Cambodia.

The meeting was held after Foreign Minister Retno met with the Chief of the Cambodian Police, General Neth Savouen. It is known that the 62 Indonesian citizens have been brought by the Indonesian Embassy and have been in Phnom Penh since August 1, 2022 in the morning.

The Indonesian Embassy in Pnom Penh, assisted by the Indonesian Police, is currently collecting data and verifying the Indonesian citizens.

"The safety of Indonesian citizens has always been the government's priority. The police of the two countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation to prevent similar incidents from happening again," said Foreign Minister Retno in a written statement on Tuesday, August 2.

"Hopefully, Indonesian citizens will help the government to campaign for the prevention of human trafficking by carefully observing the job offers given, with tempting offers," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian citizens expressed their gratitude for the rescue steps that have been taken and will provide complete information to Polri investigators, for the law enforcement process against recruiters in Indonesia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that after the data collection and interviews were completed, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh would assist with the immigration administration and facilitate the return to Indonesia.

Previously, in a meeting with the Cambodian Chief of Police, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi asked for increased cooperation in preventing human trafficking.

"Cooperation to prevent human trafficking must be strengthened between Indonesia and Cambodia," said Foreign Minister Retno when meeting with the Chief of the Cambodian Police General Neth Savouen at the Cambodian Police Headquarters.

The meeting was held after 62 Indonesian citizens who were victims of fraud and human trafficking were successfully removed from an online scam company in Sihanoukville a few days ago. Such cases have been repeated since 2021.