Indonesia and Cambodia Explore Cooperation to Eradicate Online Gambling

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: This week, a delegation from Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, alongside representatives from other ministries, engaged in discussions with the Cambodian government to explore cooperation in eradicating online gambling and online fraud.

Led by Nur Rokhmah Hidayah, Assistant Deputy for Coordination of Asia, Pacific, and Africa Cooperation at the coordinating ministry, the Indonesian delegation embarked on a five-day visit to Cambodia from Tuesday, June 11, 2024, to Saturday, June 15, 2024.

During their visit, the Indonesian officials met with key representatives from the Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT), the Ministry of Interior, and the National Police of Cambodia.

Hidayah highlighted the productive collaboration between the two countries in addressing several trafficking in persons (TIP) cases, particularly those involving Indonesian citizens in Cambodia. “This cooperation needs to continue to be improved, especially in the aspect of providing protection to Indonesian citizens who work and live in Cambodia,” she stated in an official release on Saturday.

The Indonesian delegation also proposed capacity-building initiatives to support the National Police of Cambodia and NCCT. Scheduled for late September 2024, the training will cover various aspects, including TIP case identification, case detection, investigation, and victim protection procedures. Hidayah noted that the Cambodian government welcomed this offer.

The discussions come amid a sharp increase in Indonesian citizens entangled in Cambodian online gambling and fraud networks. Cases surged from 15 in 2020 to 1,386 in 2023, with 544 involving online gambling and 842 related to online fraud, according to the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.

This collaboration aims to bolster efforts in combatting these crimes and ensuring the safety and protection of Indonesian citizens abroad.