Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto (C) with Cambodian National Police officers on November 4, ahead of their departure to the forum in Bali. Police
In a significant step forward in the collaboration between Indonesia and Cambodia in the fight against transnational crime, the Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia, Santo Darmosumarto, held a briefing for officers from the Cambodian National Police who will participate in the upcoming Sharing Forum on Identifying, Screening, Investigating, and Protecting Human Trafficking Victims.
The forum, attended by 15 selected police officers from the National Police Headquarters and the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), is being held in Bali, Indonesia from yesterday to Saturday, as part of the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Combatting Transnational Crimes, signed on August 21, 2023.
During the briefing, Ambassador Santo emphasised the forum’s importance in translating high-level commitments into real, on-the-ground impacts. He noted that the collaboration highlights the mutual dedication of Indonesia and Cambodia to address and mitigate the issue of human trafficking, especially within the ASEAN region.
“The forum will be one of the initial building blocks for transforming the commitments of the MoU into tangible actions. Through practical training and knowledge-sharing, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, coordinated response to human trafficking. The most basic foundation for this is greater interaction among our law enforcement officials,” Ambassador Santo said.
The forum brings together law enforcement and legal experts to lead the sharing session and discussions on identifying, screening, investigating and protecting human trafficking victims. The forum aims to enhance consistent, victim-centred approaches among law enforcement officials in both countries, according to the statement.
Aligned with the broader framework of ASEAN’s commitment to combat transnational crime, the forum will strengthen networks and coordination as part of efforts to ensure a unified response to human trafficking that will benefit both nations and the region as a whole.
In May this year, Ambassador Santo met with Sar Sokha, Minister of Interior, to bolster cooperation with Cambodia to jointly tackle transnational crime, especially human as well as drug trafficking.
He highlighted the collaborative efforts between relevant agencies in both nations, particularly praising the proactive response of the Cambodian National Police and the General Department of Immigration to reports of Indonesian citizens falling victim to such crimes.
He commended the Cambodian Government for its ongoing support in assisting the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, particularly in ensuring the welfare of Indonesian citizens residing in Cambodia.
The Ambassador added that Indonesia expressed its readiness to share its expertise in countering international terrorism threats, and collaboration with Cambodia in combatting drug trafficking and cybercrimes.
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