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Don’t stigmatize refugees because of prostitution ring: NGO
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Four migrants and alleged prostitutes are detained at Batam Immigration Office on Sept. 8. The office has uncovered an alleged prostitution ring in which a suspected procurer pimped nine Afghanis and a Pakistani to men and women. (JP/Fadli)
T
he Indonesian Civil Society Network for Refugee Rights Protection (Suaka) has said the government should look at an alleged migrant prostitution ring case in Batam as a criminal case and not connect it to the alleged male prostitutes’ status as asylum seekers.
In a statement made available on Thursday, Suaka coordinator Febi Yonesta said the Directorate General of Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry had stated that the alleged prostitutes were abusing their certificates issued by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“This is pure criminal case, not related to whether the perpetrators are asylum seekers or not,” said Febi.
“The immigration office and the police should tread carefully to not stigmatize the asylum seekers and refugees who are seeking protection in Indonesia,” he went on.
Suaka said the asylum seekers were people who fled from hardships in their home countries. “They are victims of persecution, either because of their religion or ethnicity or persecution by the government or other groups at home. They are protected by international law and every country is obliged to protect their rights,” he said.
Suaka lawyer Alldo Fellix Januardy said refugees often experienced other hardships in Indonesia. “This is why asylum seekers and refugees, especially children, are vulnerable to becoming victims of crime and human trafficking,” Alldo said.
Batam Immigration Office uncovered an alleged migrant prostitution ring operated by an Indonesian pimp. The office detained 10 alleged prostitutes from Afghanistan and Pakistan, among them a 15-year-old boy.
