Acting Governor Of NTT Forms Task Force For Libas Officials Involved In TIP

Acting Governor Of East Nusa Tenggara Ayodhia Kalake/ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha

Acting Governor of East Nusa Tenggara Ayodhia Kalake admitted that he had formed a task force for the Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) in the area to take action against officials in NTT who were suspected of being involved or being the mastermind behind the TIP case in the area.

"The TIP case was one of my priorities when I was assigned to NTT," he told reporters when met at the NTT Communications and Information Office in Kupang City as reported by ANTARA, Monday, January 22.

He said this was in response to the emergence of a release issued by the United States Embassy and Consulate in Indonesia entitled the 2023 People's Trade Annual Report for level two classification.

Ayodhia admitted that he had received information about the release issued by the US Embassy in Indonesia. However, he does not yet know who the officials in NTT are.

Ayodhia said the team formed was also tasked with socializing the dangers of recruiting workers in areas where there were many TIP cases.

"The TIP problem is indeed complex, so we not only prohibit people from looking for work abroad, but I prefer to provide solutions so that this problem does not continue," he said.

One of the solutions is to increase the workability of prospective migrant workers, because NTT itself already has a work training center (BLK).

According to him, the BLK can be used to provide training to prospective workers so that they have the ability and in the future they do not only think about working outside NTT such as working in oil palm plantations.

Previously, the official website of the US Embassy in Indonesia uploaded a release about the case of trafficking in people in Indonesia in 2023.

The release explained that officials in NTT Province were involved in the reported TIP, however, there was no legal follow-up.

The release did not mention who the officials were. However, it was explained that the officials had facilitated the issuance of fake documents, accepting bribes that allowed brokers to transport migrant workers without documents across the border.

Then allegedly protecting places where sex trafficking occurs, engaging in witness intimidation, and intentionally weakening surveillance practices so that these recruitment agents avoid responsibility.