Indonesian Catholics stage anti-human trafficking concert

Musicians appeal for stern action against gangs targeting women in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Indonesia:  Catholic musicians held a concert on Sept. 4 in Jakarta to raise public awareness of rising human trafficking cases in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province.

The Working Group Against Human Trafficking, a coalition of several organizations, including the Indonesia Catholic Student Association, the Catholic Youth and Volunteers Network for Humanity (J-ruk), organized the event.

During the concert the musicians, who included former seminarian and musician Ivan Nestorman and Father Leo Mali of Kupang Archdiocese — appealed for concrete action to stamp out human trafficking gangs that target poor people in the province.

Father Mali, who is also coordinator of J-ruk, said the concert was in response to a lack of concern by authorities and potential victims about the issue.

East Nusa Tenggara’s Agency for Placement and Protection of Migrant Workers says of 23 migrant workers who died abroad — mostly in Malaysia — between January and July this year were illegal migrants.

In August, East Nusa Tenggara police uncovered seven human trafficking syndicates responsible for illegally recruiting 1,667 female migrant workers in the province and sending them to Medan in North Sumatra and Malaysia.

Source: UCAN