Indonesian Citizens Become Victims Of TIP, DPR: The State Must Show Its Tarings Against Trafficking Cases!

Illustration of human trafficking (ANTARA)

Dozens of Sukabumi residents have become victims of the Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) and are now being held captive in the conflict area of Myawaddy, Myanmar. Commission IX of the DPR asked the Government to immediately carry out rescue operations against them.

"The government together with law enforcement and related agencies must immediately evacuate Indonesian citizens who are victims of TIP in Myanmar. Their condition is already very worrying so that the Government must immediately save them," said Commission IX member Rahmad Handoyo, Friday, September 13.

As is known, as many as 11 Sukabumi residents became victims of TIP and were held captive by a network of trade mafia in Myanmar. Whereas initially the victims were promised jobs with high salaries in Thailand.

However, when they arrived in Thailand, they were trapped and forced to work under threats and pressure in the Myanmar conflict area. Based on information from the Indonesian Migrant Labor Union (SBMI), the number of victims of TIP in this case is likely to increase where victims not only came from Sukabumi but also from various regions such as from Bandung to Bangka Belitung.

The process of evacuating the victims carried out by the Government has not yet yielded results considering that they are in a conflict area, namely in Myawaddy, Myanmar, which is the location of an armed conflict and is currently controlled by the rebels. Rahmad said there must be more intervention so that the victims can be immediately returned to the country.

"The state must make more efforts. The Ministry of Manpower, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) represented by the Indonesian Embassy in collaboration with the TNI/Polri can cooperate with Interpol to help the release of our citizens," he said.

The disclosure of the TIP case began with a video recording sent by one of the victims named Samsul (39) who had sent the last location point to his family in Sukabumi via the messaging application. The message was sent at the end of August 2024 until finally the victim's family made a report to the authorities.

Then it went viral on social media an amateur video showing several men in a room. They claimed to be held captive in Myanmar after becoming victims of TIP and hoped for help from the Government.

"The government must be able to ensure that the safety of our Indonesian citizens who are being held is a top priority," said Rahmad.

The member of the Commission in the DPR in charge of employment and PMI reminded that the lives of the victims of this TIP are threatened with danger. For this reason, Rahmad asked the Government to increase efforts by taking maximum and strategic steps to save the victims.

"If it is not saved quickly, the victims will continue to experience exploitation, and violence both physically and mentally. We really hope for the government's quick action and related agencies," said Rahmad.

"The state, especially the Ministry of Manpower together with the Indonesian Embassy and BP2MI, should immediately respond quickly through rescue operations. It's a pity for the nation's children who are victims," he continued.

Rahmad also highlighted the TIP cases against Indonesian citizens who have often occurred but the anticipation is still not optimal. Especially the TIP case on online scam crimes.

The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) reported that 698 Indonesian citizens were victims of TIP throughout 2024. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received 107 reports of TIP victims, of which 44 people had been successfully discharged but the rest were still in Myawaddi, Myanmar.

For Indonesian citizens involved online scams, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian Representatives have handled 3,703 people from 2020 to March 2024. Seeing the large number of Indonesian citizens who were victims of TIP abroad, Commission IX of the DPR emphasized the importance of preventive measures, especially for people in areas who often become victims of online scams.

"In this case, BP2MI must take preventive measures in collaboration with relevant ministries/agencies and local governments so that socialization and education reach all levels of society," explained Rahmad.

Often, victims of TIP are people who want to be able to go to work abroad via a fast route. Usually they are desperate to leave because they get the lure of a big salary even though companies offering jobs are not clear.

Therefore, Rahmad reminded that education related to this matter must be more massive so that people are more careful.

"People must really get literacy so that when they want to work abroad, they have to go through official channels. So that PMI candidates can be sure what company they work with, who is responsible and whose rights and obligations are clear," said the legislator from the Central Java V electoral district.

Furthermore, Rahmad said that socialization contains information to the public regarding the number of TIP cases must also be further improved. Educative information is very important so that people are not tempted to go abroad via unofficial independent channels.

"Education on safe ways to find work abroad is very important. What I think is still lacking, it is proven that there are still many residents who are victims of TIP fraud and crimes," said Rahmad.

"And we urge the public to be careful when getting the lure of large salaries working abroad. Don't be tempted by these false promises, you must first make sure the company's legitimacy and security as well as what its work agreement is like," he appealed.

On the other hand, Rahmad also reminded the importance of increasing supervision and law enforcement of labor agents who are unofficial and involved in human trafficking.

"Indonesia needs to strengthen international cooperation to fight human trafficking, including with neighboring countries and international organizations," said Rahmad.

"Supervision of labor agents and law enforcement against TIP perpetrators is still weak. This makes the perpetrators feel safe to continue to practice their illegal practices," he added.

In addition, Rahmad encouraged the Government to increase diplomacy with countries that have become the location of many TIP crimes. The DPR itself through parliamentary diplomacy also always raises the issue of PMI protection.

Diplomacy channels have a very big role, including how Indonesia is firm on TIP actions because many of our citizens have become victims. Indonesia must show its defenses against this person's trade crimes," said Rahmad.

The issue of human trafficking is regulated in Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons. The law explains a number of criminal threats for perpetrators of trafficking in persons.

The law explains that Trafficking in Persons is an act of recruitment, transportation, shelter, delivery, transfer, or acceptance of a person with threats of violence, the use of violence, the use of force, kidnapping, forgery, fraud, abuse of power or vulnerable positions, debt misappropriation or benefit so as to obtain approval from people who are in control of others, both domestically and between countries, for the purpose of exploitation or resulting in people being explored.

In some cases, a network of people's trade mafias was found who also came from within the country. There are also bureaucrats who are involved in helping the distribution of Indonesian citizens to work abroad through unofficial routes.

"For this case, we ask that anyone involved in recruitment must be able to account for it. And if it is proven to be a TIP network, they must also be punished in accordance with applicable regulations," concluded Rahmad.