Indonesian Family Reveals Ordeal of Forced Labor in Myanmar Scam Ring

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A family of Indonesian citizens recounts the harrowing experience of their relatives being deceived, tortured, forced into labor, and unable to flee from Myanmar.

Nurmaya (46) said her husband, Dedi (not real name), fell victim to an online fraud syndicate in Myanmar. Lured by a fake job offer promising a high salary in Bangkok, Dedi was deceived and forced into labor.

In June 2022, Dedi received an offer from friends, later identified as convicted traffickers Andri Satria Nugraha and Anita Setia Dewi, for an IT job in Bangkok with a salary of Rp10-20 million. After intense communication, including via Zoom, Dedi left for Bangkok two weeks later or on July 10, 2022, along with 10 others.

“There were 11 people divided into two groups, my husband was the first to leave,” Nurmaya told Tempo.

Forced Labor and Abuse

Dedi had time to inform his wife of his arrival and stayed at a hotel. The next day, Dedi and his group were taken to Mae Sot, a city in western Thailand that borders Myanmar, and were transported across Myanmar by a small boat.

Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and communication was restricted after two weeks. Dedi managed to secretly contact his wife.

“After two weeks, my husband found out [the truth] that they had been scammed,” Nurmaya said, adding that Dedi was forced to work as a scammer, targeting people in Asia and Europe. Workdays were grueling, lasting up to 17 hours. 

Failure to meet targets resulted in brutal punishments, including electric shocks, beatings, and confinement. They were also punished for waking up late, not being on time, or even falling asleep on the job. “The guards used firearms,” said Nurmaya. 

Seeking Help, Facing Frustration

Nurmaya, along with other families of victims, formed a solidarity group, the Solidarity for Victims of Forced Labor and Slavery. They reported the situation to various authorities, including the Foreign Ministry, Embassy, Police, Human Rights Commissions (Komnas HAM), the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), the Manpower Deployment Agency, and their respective regional governments. They even sent an open letter to President Joko Widodo, pleading for intervention.

However, these efforts have yielded no results thus far. Each claims the issue falls under the purview of another, leaving the families in limbo. 

Nurmaya expresses particular frustration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which, according to her, has failed to repatriate victims despite successful rescues in other countries.  She accuses them of offering only empty reassurances to "wait patiently," despite the agonizing wait that has already stretched for two years.

Ministry's Response: Challenges and Efforts

Judha Nugraha, Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acknowledges the difficulty of Dedi's case. He confirms Dedi and his group are located in the remote Phalu District, controlled by armed rebel forces beyond the reach of local authorities.

“It's part of Myawaddy but is located in the most remote, the furthest, and controlled by different rebels,” Judha told Tempo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, July 3.

He denies claims of inaction and outlines various efforts undertaken, including high-level diplomatic discussions with Cambodia and Myanmar and raising the issue of online scams at the ASEAN level. “Foreign Affairs Minister (Retno Marsudi) herself came to Cambodia,” he said.

However, Judha acknowledges that the significant obstacle is the lack of control in rebel-held areas. He explains the usual process involving local authorities for rescues, which is unfortunately inapplicable in Myanmar's specific situation.

AMELIA RAHIMA SARI

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