Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry has been coordinating with authorities in Myanmar to free a resident of South Jakarta, identified by the initials as SA, 27, reportedly being held captive in Myawaddy.
"We are still coordinating with Myanmar authorities. This matter is complicated, as it takes place in a conflict zone," Rina Komaria, a diplomat at the ministry's Directorate of Indonesian Citizens Protection, stated when contacted in Jakarta on Monday.
Komaria affirmed that her side had also been communicating with officials at the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, to follow up on the report received from the victim's family.
Meanwhile, Daniel, the victim's cousin, remarked that SA was persuaded by their friend Risky to apply for a job in Thailand with a wage of US$10 thousand. The two departed from Indonesia on July 11, 2024.
After landing in Bangkok, SA, Risky, and four other people boarded a single car. However, SA and Risky got separated, with the former being transported to Myanmar instead.
"Rather than arriving in Mae Sot, Thailand, my cousin was brought to some kind of flat in Myanmar," Daniel said while recalling the information SA provided.
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He revealed that the abductors demanded a ransom of US$30 thousand for SA to be released and freed from torture.
Daniel said SA told him that a group of people hit them with a baseball bat and refused to provide food or beverages.
Due to low economic capacity, the victim's families are not able to meet the abductors' demand for ransom. Hence, the abductors constantly attempt to reach the families via a phone call.
In search of help, the victim's families have reported the case to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), and Greater Jakarta Police.
Earlier, the Foreign Affairs Ministry urged people to beware of online scams that offer job opportunities abroad to prevent human trafficking.
According to the ministry's data, a total of 2,199 cases of Indonesian citizens being tricked into human trafficking via the digital space were recorded during the period from 2020 to May 2023.
Related news: Online scams new trend in human trafficking cases: Komnas HAM
Translator: Luthfia M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
