USG TRAINING BOLSTERS INDONESIA'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002222 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSA, G/TIP, DS, DS/CR, DS/IP/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SMIG ASEC ID SNAR SUBJECT: USG TRAINING BOLSTERS INDONESIA'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS REF: JAKARTA 1435 AND PREVIOUS JAKARTA 00002222 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified -- Please handle accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: USG assistance is making a difference in helping the GOI combat trafficking. A joint RSO-DOJ/ICITAP program focused on training Jakarta police and prosecutors on human trafficking law enforcement has yielded positive results--hundreds of trafficking victims rescued and the arrest of dozens of traffickers. This initiative is focused on preventing smuggling and trafficking to the U.S., but in fact has helped mobilize the entire national anti-trafficking effort. All this has been accomplished with just USD 45,000 in funding. END SUMMARY. A KEY COURSE ¶3. (SBU) The fifth class of Jakarta police and prosecutors graduated December 5 from the joint RSO-DOJ/ICITAP anti-human trafficking course. To date, 125 police and 50 prosecutors have taken the five-day course, taught jointly by the ARSO-I and ICITAP TIP trainers. RSO, ARSO-I and Labor Attache addressed the graduation ceremony, emphasizing the gravity of the trafficking problem and the importance of effective law enforcement. RSO termed trafficking a "crime against humanity." Labor Attache discussed the need for authorities to step up arrests of major traffickers of migrant workers, including manpower agencies, as well as of corrupt officials. He noted the problem of trafficking involving Jakarta's Sukarno-Hatta International Airport. "OPERATION HEAD HUNTER" YIELDS RESULTS ¶4. (SBU) The teaching of this course is part of the "Operation Head Hunter" initiative. The operation has focused on anti-fraud investigations, criminal intelligence gathering, arrest and prosecution of traffickers, and training of law enforcement officials. Training was funded using DS and ICITAP resources. From September 2007 to December 2008, the Operation has rescued 309 women forced into prostitution, arrested 20 suspects, executed 11 search warrants of trafficker's offices and residences, and have seen an overall increase of sentences for traffickers from 6 months to 36 months. ¶5. (SBU) In addition to training, the ARSO-I investigative program has opened 141 visa fraud cases, denied or revoked 156 visas, and the Indonesian Police have arrested 74 subjects for the production, sale, or use of counterfeit documents. The INP has also conducted raids of 18 offices of human smuggling/trafficking organizations based on information provided by ARSO-I. The criminal intelligence developed by the Consular Fraud Prevention Unit has witnessed a reduction of criminal smuggling/trafficking syndicates recruiting workers for the U.S. in local newspapers advertisements from 40 to 13 because of the difficulty in procuring fraudulent visas to the U.S. ¶6. (SBU) ARSO-I has also worked closely with Jakarta police in their investigation of trafficking cases, resulting in establishment of a 15-member Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit, trained by DSS/ICITAP. Australian and German federal police provided equipment and refurbished office space for the new GOI team. ¶7. (SBU) Police officers trained in this program have conducted a series of major busts in the past few months (see reftel). Furthermore, the national police anti-trafficking unit (Unit 3) has declared December anti-trafficking month with a series of raids, many done in conjunction with Jakarta police trained by DSS/ICITAP. In the first week of operations, 148 women, including 39 foreigners, were rescued. These included raids on: JAKARTA 00002222 002.2 OF 002 -- A human trafficking syndicate house in West Jakarta and the rescue of 18 women destined to be sold into sex slavery in Taiwan (traffickers are at large). -- Hotels and spas--including the luxury Hotel Nikko in downtown Jakarta--resulting in rescue of 82 Indonesian and foreigners (from China, Vietnam, Mongolia and Thailand). Three foreign agents are being investigated and could be imprisoned for six years under the 2007 anti-trafficking law. The victims are being cared for and not prosecuted. USG FUNDING GETS BANG FOR THE BUCK ¶8. (SBU) Operation Headhunter has produced dramatic results since it was initiated last year by an ARSO-I assigned to focus on smuggling and trafficking to the U.S. Besides sharply reducing smuggling/trafficking to the U.S. and opening up major cases in the U.S., the operation has mobilized Jakarta police and prosecutors. This was accomplished with just USD30,000 plus support from ICITAP in the amount of USD15,000. Funding was used primarily to help police with their investigations. ICITAP staff were also part of the training team. Mission strongly supports increased funding for this effort given that it is an effective and economical tool. HUME