Government Appreciation for the Repatriation of Indonesian Citizens Victims of TPPO from Myanmar

By: Arman Panggabean
The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has successfully repatriated 400 Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were victims of Human Trafficking (TPPO) in Myawaddy City, Myanmar. The victims, most of whom were victims of online fraud, were safely brought out of the conflict area on Monday. They consisted of 313 men and 87 women, including six pregnant women.
This repatriation was carried out through intensive coordination between the Indonesian government, Thai authorities, and Myanmar. The Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, revealed that the victims had been crossed from Myanmar to Mae Sot City, Thailand, via the Second Friendship Bridge. After undergoing a health screening process and the National Referral Mechanism, the Indonesian citizens were sent by land for ten hours using nine buses to Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok.
From Bangkok, the victims were flown using a charter plane to Indonesia. During the repatriation process, the Indonesian Citizen Protection Team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon, and the National Police Hubinter conducted identification and assistance from Myawaddy until they arrived in Indonesia.
This repatriation effort cannot be separated from the active role of the Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Rachmat Budiman, who directly led the repatriation process. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, full support from the Thai and Myanmar authorities allowed the crossing process to run smoothly without significant obstacles. This cross-country support shows the importance of international cooperation in handling human trafficking cases involving cross-jurisdiction.
In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took preparatory steps before the repatriation. After the Indonesian citizens arrived in Mae Sot, they underwent a health check and a thorough identity verification. The government ensured that no victims were missed in this repatriation process. The next stage was data collection and preparation of travel documents, which were carried out carefully so that the repatriation process ran smoothly.
Ambassador Rachmat Budiman said that intensive coordination with local authorities was carried out to ensure the safety and comfort of the victims during the repatriation process. He also emphasized the importance of providing psychosocial support to the victims, considering that most of them experienced trauma due to exploitation and violence while in Myanmar.
After arriving in Bangkok, hundreds of Indonesian citizens were flown to Indonesia by chartered plane and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Tuesday morning. Currently, there are still 154 other Indonesian citizens awaiting the repatriation process from Myawaddy, and they are planned to arrive on Wednesday. The government ensures that the entire process is carried out under tight guard by a team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian diplomatic representatives.
In addition to ensuring that the repatriation runs safely, the government also pays attention to the rehabilitation of the victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates with the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) and the Ministry of Empowerment of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) to ensure the rehabilitation and social reintegration process for the victims. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian citizens will receive psychosocial assistance to restore their mental condition and social support so that they can adapt back to their respective environments.
Minister of P2MI, Abdul Kadir, stated that his party will conduct a detailed data verification process to ensure that each victim receives the attention they need. The government has also prepared a social reintegration program so that victims can continue their lives better and avoid similar cases in the future. The government is not only focused on repatriation but also on the psychological recovery of victims so that they can live a normal life after returning home.
In addition to the aspects of protection and repatriation, the government is also committed to continuing to monitor the development of TPPO cases in the region. Cross-border cooperation continues to be strengthened to identify human trafficking networks involving Indonesian citizens, so that comprehensive prevention can be carried out. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also appealed to the public to be more vigilant against unclear job offers, especially through social media. Awareness campaigns regarding the dangers of TPPO continue to be carried out so that the public can recognize the characteristics of job recruitment fraud that leads to exploitation.
The government’s quick steps and effective coordination in repatriating TPPO victims have received appreciation from various parties. The community and the victims’ families also expressed relief at the safe return of their family members to their homeland. This makesprove the government’s seriousness in protecting the rights of Indonesian citizens, both at home and abroad.
The success of this repatriation is not only a diplomatic achievement, but also a real form of the state’s commitment to the safety of its citizens. Through cooperation and synergy across ministries, the government is committed to continuing to protect citizens wherever they are. This commitment will be maintained, especially in facing various global challenges related to increasingly complex human trafficking.
Social Policy Observer – Madani Institute Social Institution