Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) along with dozens of former Indonesian migrant workers, and victims of human trafficking (TPPO) in Myanmar, held a rally in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta today, Monday, February 3, 2025, at 09:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time).
SBMI Chairperson Hariyanto Suwarno said that the rally was attended by 45 Indonesian migrant workers or PMI who were victims of forced labor in the online scam industry and have been successfully repatriated from Myanmar.
"Around 45 people will participate in a photo rally in front of the Myanmar Embassy building," said Hariyanto in a message to Tempo on Monday, February 3, 2025.
A total of 45 Indonesian citizens fell victim to human trafficking in Myawaddy, Myanmar. SBMI reported the case in December 2024.
Before this, the Coordinator of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Sub-Commission for the Advancement of Human Rights, Anis Hidayah, said that the victims came from various regions such as Jakarta, North Sumatra, Kalimantan, and West Java.
In an interview with Tempo on January 7, Anis stated that among the victims, some had been trapped there for six months or even longer. She mentioned that her organization receives TPPO complaints almost every month. Not only reports of TPPO victims in Myanmar, but some Indonesian citizens have become TPPO victims in Iraq and Cambodia.
Based on Komnas HAM's data from 2023 to February 2024, they received 92 TPPO complaints. Each report does not represent a single victim. As reported by SBMI, in one complaint they reported 43 TPPO victims.
According to Anis, more TPPO cases are now passing through immigration channels, although illegal channels are still being used. The infiltration of victims through immigration channels, she said, is due to the involvement of government officials. "Because there is intent, there are state officials involved in these actions," she said in an interview with Tempo on January 7, 2025.
– Jihan Ristiyanti contributed to the writing of this article.