Jakarta (BERITAPOLITIK.ONLINE) — The latest revelation by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Polhukam), Marshal TNI (Ret.) Hadi Tjahjanto, sheds light on a concerning issue involving Indonesian students potentially falling victim to human trafficking in Germany, with a reported figure of 1,900 individuals.
During a brief encounter amidst his security inspection at Jakarta Cathedral on Thursday, March 28, 2024, Hadi disclosed that his ministry is actively identifying cases where Indonesian students might have become victims of human trafficking under the guise of internship programs in Germany.
Currently, the focus is on coordinating efforts with relevant authorities to unravel the complexities surrounding these suspicions of human trafficking.
“In terms of coordination (investigation), firstly with Dikti (Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology), secondly with the National Police, and thirdly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to identify the process of sending these students so that from these steps we can determine the best course of action to ensure the safety of these students. Approximately 1,900 students have been identified,” stated Hadi Tjahjanto.
During an interaction with reporters in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Hadi mentioned that the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs will establish a specialized team to investigate the alleged human trafficking cases involving Indonesian students. Furthermore, during his recent visit to the Cathedral, Hadi reaffirmed his commitment to personally lead this specialized team.
He elaborated that the team would comprise representatives from the ministry overseeing higher education, the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hadi highlighted that coordination, both formal and informal, has been underway with these institutions.
The case of alleged human trafficking affecting Indonesian students in Germany surfaced in mid-March 2024. The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department initiated an investigation following reports from the Indonesian Embassy in Germany.
“The students were employed in a non-procedural manner, resulting in their exploitation,” stated Brigadier General Pol. Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, Director of General Crimes at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
So far, the police have identified five suspects in connection with the alleged human trafficking, comprising three women identified as ER alias EW (aged 39), A alias AE (37), and AJ (52), along with two male suspects identified as AS (65) and MZ (60). Two of the five suspects are currently located in Germany.
Efforts are underway to address this concerning situation and ensure the safety and well-being of Indonesian students abroad.
