Human traffickers thrive, continue to elude police

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Mon, 07/06/2009 2:18 PM  |  Bali

Bali has become a transit haven for human trafficking practices involving children and women, a police official said.

"The majority of the victims are innocent children and young women. Their networks have been very sophisticated and well-organized, making it difficult for the police and other institutions to uncover their practices," explained Sang Ayu Alit Saparini, head of Bali Police's Women and Children's Service Unit.

Sang Ayu admitted so far the police had only been able to uncover very few cases of children and women's trafficking.

In 2007, the police saved four young women from Indramayu, West Java. The teenage women were sold as commercial sex workers in a number of karaoke bars in Denpasar. In 2008, the police saved just one girl, also from Indramayu.

The rapid growth of the tourism industry on the island has become a powerful magnet for many rural people.

Many were successful but the majority of these migrants were plunged into informal sectors including as commercial sex workers.

Legislator Anak Agung Anie Asmoro said Bali has ratified a regional bill on human trafficking to anticipate the possible increase of these cases.

"We had been working hard to finish the draft of the bill because the cases on human trafficking in Bali have been so alarming."

The bill would require a ratification from the Home Ministry. When ratified the bill would net any crime sanction against violators with a minimum three years in jail to 15 years imprisonment.

The violators would also be fined at least Rp 120 million, up to Rp 600 million. The sanctions were in line with Law No. 21 on human trafficking Article 2 to Article 27, issued in 2007.

Sri Wahyuni, chairperson of Bali chapter of the Indonesian Commission for Children's Protection said Bali has been used as a transit place for human traffickers bringing women and children from West and East Java to West Nusa Tenggara.

"From there *West Nusa Tenggara*, those victims would be shipped to some foreign countries."

She also explained human trafficking has occurred within the island's regencies.

Rural boys and girls were taken to large cities like Denpasar, Kuta, Ubud and Singaraja to work as beggars, street children and commercial sex workers.

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