Dozens of Migrant Workers Abandoned on an Uninhabited Island in Batam

When officers were about to help them, dozens of migrant workers were afraid. They become victims of human trafficking.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A total of 16 migrant workers who were abandoned on an uninhabited island were presented during a press conference at the headquarters of the Navy's Fourth Main Patrol Base in Batam, Riau Islands on Tuesday (16/5/2024).

BATAM, KOMPAS — A total of 16 Indonesian migrant workers were abandoned on an uninhabited island in Batam, Riau Islands. They paid Rp. 10 million-Rp. 15 million to a smuggling network in Malaysia to return to Indonesia via illegal routes.

Intelligence Assistant of the Navy's IV Fleet Command (Lantamal), Colonel Joko Santosa, stated that 16 migrant workers were left behind on uninhabited Tanjung Ancang Island in Batam. This was revealed based on a report by Bidin (44), a resident of Todak Island, to the Maritime Potential Development Non-Commissioned Officer in Ngenang Village, Nongsa District.

Lantamal IV then assigned soldiers from the Patrol Vessel Unit to go to Tanjung Ancang. When the authorities arrived, the migrant workers were frightened and fled into the woods.

"The officers made an approach for several hours and successfully found five migrant workers. They were then given an understanding that the officers did not come to capture them, but to save them," said Joko.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Intelligence Assistant of the Command of the Fourth Indonesian Navy Base, Colonel Joko Santosa (second from the left), provided a press statement regarding the rescue of 16 migrant workers who were abandoned on an uninhabited island in Batam, Riau Islands on Tuesday (16/5/2024).

The incident was first discovered by Sudin (46), a resident of Pulau Todak, located several kilometers away from Pulau Tanjung Ancam. At the time, he was sailing by boat to take his children to school on Pulau Air Raja. In the middle of the journey, he saw dozens of people soaking wet and shivering on the shores of Tanjung Ancam.

"There are lots of people on the island, but they don't seem to be anglers because they don't bring fishing rods. Try checking first," said Sudin after returning to Todak Island to his younger brother, Bidin.

Bidin then headed to Tanjung Ancang Island which is about 10 minutes away by motorized boat. Upon arrival, he asked the people who took shelter under the tree from the heavy rain that had been pouring since dawn.

"They said they had just returned from the other side and were left behind by the tekong (boat driver) so they were trapped on the island," said Bidin.

BIDIN UNTUK KOMPAS

Condition of migrant workers abandoned on an uninhabited island in Batam, Riau Islands, Tuesday (21/5/2024).

For Batam people, the term "across" is synonymous with Malaysia. Therefore, he immediately understood that these people were undocumented migrant workers who were victims of human trafficking syndicates.

"I immediately called the authorities so that the people could be immediately picked up and rescued to Batam," said Bidin

According to him, a few years ago there were also migrant workers who were abandoned on an uninhabited island near Pulau Todak. Uninhabited islands around Batam are prone to being used by syndicates to facilitate human trafficking and drug smuggling crimes.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

A total of 16 migrant workers who were stranded on an uninhabited island were rescued by the Indonesian Navy in Batam, Riau Islands, on Tuesday (May 16, 2024).

One of the migrant workers who became a victim, Dendi (37), said that he had to pay 3,000 ringgit or around Rp 10 million to the smuggler to be sent back to Indonesia through illegal channels. He knew the smuggler through word of mouth from fellow migrant workers.

"We departed around 8 PM from the Malaysian Peninsula. Then, around 1 AM, we were dropped off on that uninhabited island. The boat driver said that we would be picked up later, but in reality, we were abandoned on the island," said a father of two from East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.

Dendi has been working in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia as a palm oil laborer for 1.5 years. Previously, he also entered Malaysia through a non-procedural route with only a tourist visa and paid Rp 15 million to a smuggler.

Also read: Migrant Workers Allegedly Deliberately Drowning to Fool the Authorities

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

The boats of the Customs and Excise officials and the Unitary Sea and Coastal Guard intercepted a boat smuggling migrant workers in a simulation held in the waters of Batam, Riau Islands, on Wednesday (19/1/2022).

Recurring events

Humanitarian activist in Batam, RD Paschalis Saturnus Esong, called the abandonment of 16 migrant workers a humanitarian issue. He urges the government to immediately provide services and assistance to the victims.

“Make sure the victims are healthy and safe before returning them to their area of ​​origin. "Don't blame and stigmatize them," said Paschalis.

Cases of human trafficking are not only rampant in Batam, but are also mushrooming on almost the entire east coast of Sumatra. In fact, it is not uncommon for human trafficking syndicates to try to smuggle undocumented migrant workers in small boats.

The waters off the east coast of Sumatra, especially in the Malacca and Singapore Straits, are a high-risk location for accidents involving migrant worker boats. Since December 2021, there have been seven incidents in the area. At least 44 migrant workers have died and 76 others have gone missing.

Also read: Stop the Debauchery of Human Trafficking Syndicates

Paschalis is outraged by the endless smuggling of migrant workers. He urges the authorities to immediately uncover the masterminds behind the widespread human trafficking syndicate in Batam.

"Many times we only see the suffering of the victims, without knowing who is responsible behind cases like this. The authorities have never been successful in eradicating human trafficking syndicates," said Paschalis.

Cases of human trafficking are not only rampant in Batam, but are also mushrooming on almost the entire east coast of Sumatra. In fact, it is not uncommon for human trafficking syndicates to try to smuggle undocumented migrant workers in small boats.

In early April 2023, Minister Coordinator for Politics, Law, and Security Mahfud MD stated that the government would use all available resources to eradicate the illegal placement of migrant workers. He also claimed to have obtained a number of lists of human trafficking syndicates along with their members in Batam.

"What's the point of us being independent if our own people are humiliated (and) have their humanity thrown away like that?" said Mahfud (Kompas, 8/4/2023).