Enslaved, escaped, empowered: Indonesian survivor’s odyssey from captive to crusader

Trapped abroad and feeling forgotten about at home, Indonesia’s trafficking victims languish as their families demand more action

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A member of Thai military personnel stands guard in Mae Sot district overlooking the Moei River that forms the border with Myanmar. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:00pm, 25 Jun 2024

Gusti Awan’s harrowing ordeal began with a promise of lucrative work abroad, but the 26-year-old Indonesian’s dreams quickly turned nightmarish when he found himself trafficked by a criminal syndicate to a remote compound on the Thai-Myanmar border.

For months, he was forced to commit online scams under threats of violence, enduring unthinkable abuse before finally managing to escape. Yet his ordeal did not end there – a lack of action by local authorities left Awan struggling to find justice, underscoring the daunting challenges trafficking survivors face.

Awan’s experience shines a light on the plight of thousands of his fellow Indonesians who remain enslaved abroad, trapped by the same criminal syndicates that lured him in with promises of high-paying overseas work.

“I was recruited by an acquaintance back in my hometown,” Awan told This Week in Asia. The tantalising offer? A Thailand-based job with US e-commerce giant Amazon paying a salary of 40,000 baht (US$1,090) per month.

But soon after landing in Bangkok on May 20 last year, the harsh reality set in. Awan was swiftly transported to Mae Sot near the border with Myanmar and had his phone and passport confiscated.

The Moei River at the Thai-Myanmar border as seen from Mae Sot. Trafficking victims are whisked across the river after being lured to Thailand with false promises of lucrative work. Photo: AFP

“We crossed a river and arrived at a compound guarded by armed men wearing Myanmar military uniforms,” he said.