Jakarta, IO – Indonesia and Laos are strengthening cooperation to eradicate the crime of trafficking in persons (TPPO). The step was taken in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 42nd Asean summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Tuesday (9/5).
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone placed high importance on strengthening the effort, reported Katadata, Wednesday (10/5).
“The two leaders emphasized the importance to increase cooperation in eradicating trafficking in persons which is currently rampant in Asean member countries,” said Retno.
President Jokowi previously stated that Indonesia would bring up the discussion on the issue during the summit with an emphasis on online fraud.
“This is important and I deliberately propose this because the victims are Asean citizens and most of them are Indonesian citizens,” Jokowi said.
As this year’s chair of Asean, Indonesian has paid special attention to the scourge as conveyed by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD when he presided over the 26th Meeting of Asean Political Security Community (APSC) on Tuesday (9/5).
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He stated that leaders of Asean would declare a joint commitment to eradicate human trafficking in the region. “Tomorrow our leaders will adopt the Declaration on the Eradication of Human Trafficking Due to the Misuse of Technology,” Mahfud said. (un)