Mahfud MD Asks The Police To Strengthen Cooperation With BP2MI On Trafficking In Persons

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The National Police has been asked to strengthen cooperation with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) to reduce the high level of criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO).

"I ask the police to strengthen cooperation with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD when chairing a cross-institutional meeting attended by BP2MI and the National Police at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Office, Jakarta, Monday, September 19 yesterday.

He said that strengthening the cooperation was needed because the settlement of the TIP case was quite complex.

"I know a lot of things. So, it's not easy for BP2MI or for the Police. It's not just a matter of legal technical matters but about politics and all kinds of things. Well, that's what must be unraveled one by one, especially the mafia, the mobilization of the workforce, just take action first. Then, we announce don't play games. This is a human problem and it has become a national concern," Mahfud said as quoted by Antara.

According to him, the TIP case has been going on for a long time and in practice it involves various parties, both law enforcement officers, immigration, and games at the regional level.

"This is not only a matter of the police, but also a matter of immigration, courts, prosecutors' office, civil records, local governments, 'back-up' of individuals, and many other problems, such as poverty and ignorance," he said.

Therefore, Mahfud continued, the TIP case has been one of the focuses of government discussion, even since last year. Thus, Mahfud asked the police to strengthen cooperation with various parties, especially BP2MI.

The request was welcomed by the Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabareskrim) of the National Police, Komjen Pol. Agus Andrianto. He conveyed his readiness to cooperate with BP2MI to investigate the TIP case.

In principle, we are ready, we have experience in dealing with this problem. We believe in our experience. If we unite, I believe that efforts to save Indonesian workers can be made," said Agus.

Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani said that the TIP mode is still using the old method, namely recruitment with the lure of a large salary so that people who are generally recruited from the lower economy are easily affected.

"The mode is general conventional mode, brokers go to the community offering jobs, big salaries leaving quickly, and all costs are borne," he said.

But in fact, said Benny, TIP perpetrators falsified documents that started at the village or sub-district level.

"Maybe it's important for us to cooperate with the village government. Then, brokers provide compensation to families of Rp. 5 million-Rp. 10 million. How not to be interested economically they are weak," said Benny.