The National Police Chief Lifts TIP Issues At The ASEAN SOMTC 2023 Event

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo accompanied by Kabareskrim Komjen Agus Andrianto (right) and Head of Hubinter Division Inspector General Krishna Murti (left)/ANTARA/HO-Division of Police Public Relations

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo raised the issue of criminal acts of trafficking in persons at the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Leaders in Yogyakarta.

During the meeting, Sigit said that the TIP discussion was in line with the agreement between President Joko Widodo and several state leaders in ASEAN who were committed to eradicating all forms of TIP.

"Of course, TIP is of international concern. In SOMTC this is a serious matter, which of course we hope in the future can really protect Indonesian citizens," said Sigit in a statement quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 20.

According to the National Police Chief, cross-border cooperation is not only a exchange of information, but also how to increase law enforcement by arresting perpetrators abroad.

"With more operational cooperation and of course it will also save the victims who are abroad to return to Indonesia," he said.

The former Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police confirmed that the National Police had arrested 457 TIP suspects within two weeks after President Jokowi issued a policy.

Sigit also hopes that with the steps taken by the National Police, people who will work abroad through official channels so that they get legal protection and their rights, and things that harm Indonesian migrant workers do not happen.

The National Police Chief appealed to the public not to be easily provoked by high salary persuasion and ignore skills and official requirements to work abroad.

Sigit also ordered all his staff to take firm action against anyone involved in the TIP, including members of the National Police.

"For the perpetrators, I have ordered members of anyone involved, both from outside agencies and the police themselves, I ask for strict action," he said.

"Without compromise, I think people should report that if there is such information, we will follow up because we love the community. We want to protect our people who work abroad. They are Indonesian heroes who must be protected," said Sigit.

Regarding the 23rd SOMTC activity, Sigit said Indonesia became the chairman of SOMTC after 10 years of waiting.

"This activity is an important activity for the Police, especially to be able to discuss more seriously some of the conversations that we have carried out so far," he explained.

At previous SOMTC meetings faced with the COVID-19 situation so that it was held virtually.

This year is carried out offline, so it is hoped that there will be special talks that are not only cooperation in ordinary formality, but cooperation that can be operated, especially in terms of law enforcement against transnational crimes.

"Because so far it has been a problem when the perpetrators of the crime then fled abroad, while we were faced with difficult bureaucracy so that the hopes of the victims and hope that we can catch the perpetrators of criminal acts are hampered," said Sigit.