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