Eighty-four Indonesians freed from scam centers in Myanmar arrived in Jakarta late Friday, marking a significant repatriation amid ongoing regional challenges. These individuals were part of a larger group of over 7,000 people detained in the Myanmar border town of Myawaddy, following a crackdown on scam operations by Thailand, Myanmar, and China.
The group first traveled to Mae Sot, a Thai border city, where they underwent health checks and identity verification before being flown home on three commercial flights. The first flight, carrying 38 evacuees, landed at 8:05 PM local time. Upon arrival, many of the evacuees wore dark hoodies, red scarves, and face masks, and they chose not to speak to the media as they were escorted through a throng of reporters at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
“They were healthy,” reported Judha Nugraha, the director for citizen protection at Indonesia’s foreign affairs ministry. Together with Indonesian diplomats from Yangon and Bangkok, he had been in Mae Sot since February 23 to coordinate the repatriation process. Nugraha noted that the government continues efforts to communicate with Thai and Myanmar authorities to facilitate the return of over 360 Indonesians currently stranded in Myanmar.
The reason for the limited number of repatriated individuals was not immediately clear. Reports indicate that hundreds of thousands have been lured to work in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, often under fraudulent pretenses, only to find themselves ensnared in forced labor conditions involving global scams, such as fake romances, investment frauds, and illegal gambling.
Indonesia’s foreign affairs ministry estimates that around 6,800 Indonesians have fallen victim to illegal job scams across Myanmar and other countries in recent years. The recent crackdown on these scam centers coincided with a meeting in Beijing earlier this month, where Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed efforts to dismantle these networks.
Thailand has been proactive, cutting off electricity, internet, and gas supplies to several areas in Myanmar known for hosting these scam centers. Last week, over 600 Chinese nationals were repatriated. Previously, approximately 260 individuals from 20 countries, including Ethiopia, Brazil, and the Philippines, crossed into Thai custody, with many returning home, though more than 100 still await repatriation.
Nugraha emphasized the importance of caution when seeking employment abroad. “This case serves as a valuable lesson for people to be careful in searching for work overseas,” he stated. “We urge all Indonesian citizens to pursue legal and proper channels for employment to ensure their safety and welfare.”
Credit: The Independent
