TANGERANG, Banten (Indonesia), Feb 21 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- A former member of West Java's Indramayu District regional legislature (DPRD) was among the 46 Indonesian victims of human trafficking repatriated to Indonesia from Myawaddy, Myanmar, on Thursday evening.
The Foreign Ministry's Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens, Judha Nugraha, stated here on Friday that the 46 human trafficking victims came from nine provinces, with the majority hailing from North Sumatra and West Java.
"We also confirm that one of the 46 rescued migrant workers is a former member of the Indramayu District DPRD with the initial R," he revealed, reported ANTARA news agency.
The ministry official stated that the rescued Indonesians, who had reportedly endured torture while held captive in Myanmar, were repatriated on two flights that arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on late Thursday and early Friday.
While commending the positive contribution of the Indonesian Embassy in Myanmar, Nugraha stated that the repatriation process for the Indonesian migrant workers from Myawaddy "was a long one."
He further confirmed that 270 Indonesians remain in Myawaddy, and the Foreign Ministry will continue working to repatriate them home.
"We expect to commence an in-depth investigation to probe parties who helped their departure in the first place and take legal actions against them," Nugraha emphasised.
Meanwhile, Rinardi, the director general of protection of the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, stated that the 46 rescued Indonesians would undergo an assessment at a Social Affairs Ministry facility following their repatriation.
"After the process concludes, we will help return them to their hometown under the auspices of the Social Affairs Ministry," he remarked. - Bernama-ANtara
