ROC, Indonesia combat human trafficking

The ROC and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding Oct. 3 on cooperation against human trafficking, according to the National Immigration Agency under the Ministry of the Interior.

The memorandum, which takes effect immediately, is Taiwan’s first agreement on the issue with a Southeast Asian country.

“With globalization, human trafficking has become a transnational crime that countries cannot fight individually,” said Hsieh Li-kung, director-general of the NIA.

“An international cooperation mechanism must be established to strengthen collaborative ties on combating human-trafficking.”

Hsieh said there are 181,236 Indonesians residing in Taiwan, 100,000 of whom are laborers. “The accord can safeguard human rights on both sides, prevent human trafficking and the exploitation of illegal immigrants, and allow for the exchange of information on anti-terrorism,” he noted.

“Although the two sides have no diplomatic ties, the pact legalizes bilateral immigration exchanges and enhances the efficiency of our day-to-day work against human trafficking and the smuggling of illegal immigrants,” Hsieh said.

The NIA said that in past investigations of human smuggling groups, only those involved in Taiwan could be charged, while it was difficult to obtain information on intermediaries or gang leaders in Indonesia. “Now that relevant intelligence can be exchanged, we hope to track down those ultimately responsible,” the agency added. (THN)

(2012-10-04/taiwantoday)