2 Indonesian women held in Myanmar, Rp200 million ransom sought

Two Indonesian women identified by the initials AE and S are suspected of being held in Myawaddy, Myanmar, with a demand for Rp200 juta in ransom. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the report was received on 15 July, and on 16 July KBRI Yangon sent a diplomatic note to Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting a search and confirmation of their whereabouts. Polri is also monitoring the case and preparing rescue steps. Myawaddy is on the Myanmar-Thailand border and is known as a conflict area frequently used by online scam networks. According to the Foreign Ministry, KBRI has obtained early indications of the women’s location and continues to coordinate with local authorities and the family. The government links the case to nonprocedural job recruitment that leads to exploitation, passport confiscation, violence and TPPO in online scam centers.