T

he West Java provincial administration has pledged to step up its battle against human trafficking following the high number of human trafficking cases in the province.

The administration is collaborating with the Siliwangi Military Command in the hope to stop the crime.

'€œWe must protect residents. We believe that it [the Indonesian Military or TNI] is a state institution which is effective in preventing the crime,'€ said West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan in Bandung on the sidelines of the Population, Family Planning and Human Trafficking orientation program for Rayon Military Command (Koramil) chiefs and Village Supervisory Non-commissioned Officers (Babinsa) from across the province on Friday.

Data from the National Police showed that West Java ranked top in terms of human trafficking from 2005 to 2009, during which 784 human trafficking cases were recorded.

Human trafficking is a crucial issue in West Java which has the densest population in the country with 44.5 million inhabitants. Off the number, the Central Statistics Agency in March 2012 recorded more than 4.4 million people living below the poverty line, or only earning a monthly income of less than Rp 231,438 (US$20).

As many as 2.57 million of the underprivileged populace are found in urban areas and 1.9 million in rural areas.

The Service Center for the Protection of Women and Children'€™s (P2TP2A) head, Netty Prasetiyani Heryawan, said that the poverty issue had become a place for irresponsible people to offer '€œjobs'€. But in the end, the offers are just a deception the perpetrators use to taking advantage of the jobseekers by selling them.

Netty said that the offers usually come from the closest people.

One of the findings by the P2TP2A and the West Java Police was the employment of a female university students in a health spa that become a sex worker.

'€œThe shift in value is also a factor for the high rate in human trafficking, young girls [for example] who have a strong desire to own sophisticated gadgets and branded items,'€ said Netty.

Netty said the crime could be traced when collecting, transporting and handing over people in an illegal manner. Furthermore, she added, human traffickers usually lure victims by promising them high salaries. '€œSome of the traffickers give parents money then tell their children to repay the debt by working for them,'€ said Netty.

She expressed hope that the collaboration between the administration and Indonesian military (TNI), especially the presence of Babinsa personnel, could help curb human trafficking, adding TNI soldiers on the front line could protect the people.

Moreover, Ahmad said this would not become an issue if population growth is controlled and the community could obtain sufficient education and healthcare.

'€œWe have placed education and healthcare at the top of our priority list because they are key to creating better-quality human resources,'€ he said.

Meanwhile, Siliwangi Military Commander chief Maj. Gen. Dedi Kusnadi said his men were ready to combat human trafficking, especially his area command that is equipped with 5,300 Babinsa personnel.

'€œThose who have gained material on human trafficking will be posted in the regions. We fully support the step taken by the government,'€ said Dedi.

To run the non-combat military operation, TNI soldiers will not be equipped with firearms. Dedi expressed, hoping his men would be more vigilant and close with the community.

'€œSo, whenever there is information or suspicion, it will be reported. We will not arrest perpetrators without coordinating with police in their jurisdiction. There are procedures [that must be followed],'€ said Dedi.