Director General Of Immigration Instructs Staff To Eradicate Trafficking In Persons

Director General Of Immigration Of The Ministry Of Law And Human Rights (Kemenkumham) Silmy Karim

KAPUAS HULU - Director General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) Silmy Karim asked all Immigration ranks to prevent and take action against trafficking in persons, especially at the state gate.

"The vital role of Immigration is when making passports and immigration checks at the Immigration checkpoint (TPI)," said Silmy Karim as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, August 12.

Silmy said that in the passport application, the officer was asked to carry out a "profiling" or in-depth examination of the applicant who was indicated to provide incorrect information and the passport applicant could be suspended for up to two years.

"To create a deterrent effect, the Directorate General of Immigration will take steps so that the postponement of the passport application can be extended for up to three years," he said.

In addition, he said, immigration checks at TPI became the second "filter" in preventing trafficking in persons. Departure delays can be made if indications are found to be migrant workers.

Previously, the issue of trafficking in persons became a special discussion of The 26th ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) which took place from August 8 to 11, 2023 at Phuket Thailand.

In fact, at the meeting, Indonesia and Cambodia were committed to working together to eradicate human trafficking.

"During the meeting, I said that many Indonesian citizens were victims. Gambling 'online', 'online' fraud, to selling kidneys," said Silmy.

Regarding human trafficking, said Silmy, it has claimed many victims, so it has been agreed that Indonesia will initiate a cooperation agreement with Cambodia as a follow-up.

"We hope that it will be completed in the near future and all Immigration ranks in Indonesia to play an active role in efforts to prevent and eradicate trafficking in persons," said Silmy.

Silmy said that based on the explanation of the Cambodian delegation, "online" gambling activities had been legalized, but since June 2019 the permit for gambling operations and "online" gambling has been revoked and declared illegal.

"In 2022, operations were carried out in Sihanoukville, which is suspected to be a gambling center. More than 200 people were arrested and mostly from Indonesia," said Silmy.

Therefore, he said, the issue was a serious concern between Indonesia and Cambodia and agreed to eradicate, especially trafficking in persons.