Legal Literacy - So far, the phrase "prevent and eradicate" in Law No. 21/2007 on the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO Law) is just a blunt administrative routine. Hundreds of cases are revealed every year, victims, especially women and children, continue to fall, yet large syndicates, their funders and protectors still operate freely. The passive "prevention" approach has failed miserably.

It is time for the state to replace the diction with Absolute Prohibition. Not just a moral appeal, but a firm, imperative, zero tolerance legal order. Human dignity is not a commodity that can be bargained for economic reasons, employment, or the interests of the ruler.

Semantic and Juridical Issues

The fundamental weakness lies in semantic and juridical issues. The word "prevent" is lenient and leaves a wide gap of interpretation for perpetrators. In fact, Article 1 point 1 of the TPPO Law clearly defines trafficking in persons as a series of acts of recruitment, transportation, shelter, and so on with elements of coercion for exploitation.

The Absolute Prohibition carries a sharper imperative force. The planning of TPPO, even if it has not been realized, must be punished equally with its implementation as stipulated in Article 11 of the TPPO Law on criminal conspiracy. Every link in the crime chain, from recruiters, transporters, harborers, owners of capital, to the final beneficiaries, must be severely punished without discount in accordance with Article 2 of the TPPO Law.

Approach follow the money must be the main spirit. Many perpetrators who pretend to be reporters or victims of the system actually enjoy the proceeds of crime through hidden funds. Article 26 of the TPPO Law already states that victim consent does not eliminate criminal prosecution, but its application is still weak.

Radical Institutional Reform

Handling TPPO also requires fundamental institutional reform. Currently, authority is spread across various ministries and local governments, making it vulnerable to overlap, slow, and easily influenced by political and corporate interests. As a result, only accomplices are arrested, while the brains and financiers remain free.

The solution is the establishment of a Special Department for Combating TPPO directly under the President. This superbody institution must have cross-agency coordination authority (Police, Attorney General's Office, KPK, BIN, Immigration, and OJK), intelligence authority for prevention and prosecution, as well as an independent budget and recruitment.

Placed under the President, this institution will have the authority to shake the economic powers that be. In its presence, the principle of equality before the law is no longer a slogan, but a reality. Anyone involved in human exploitation is a gross human rights criminal, with no immunity due to economic contribution or position.

Silent Operator Intelligence Strategy

The enforcement strategy must change from a conventional, sporadic approach to a smart intelligence strategy. Impromptu raids and field arrests only cut off the tail of the syndicate. Cash transactions, recruitment through social media with the lure of work, and exploitation in the fisheries, plantation and migration sectors are difficult to detect through digital footprints.

Therefore, a Silent Operator approach is absolutely necessary. Silent surveillance, unannounced lifestyle monitoring, cross-jurisdictional asset tracing and analysis of unusual transaction patterns are key. Strong circumstantial evidence such as wealth mismatches with business profiles must be recognized in court so that perpetrators no longer hide behind "victim consent" or fake documents.

Public Sanctions and National Blacklist

Criminal punishment and fines alone are not enough for corporate actors. Reputation is the lifeblood of their business. Therefore, any company or individual proven to be involved must face strict public sanctions. The disclosure of documents and assets to the public, permanent inclusion in the National Black List, prohibition from doing business in vulnerable sectors, and freezing of assets.

These social sanctions are often much more painful than easily paid fines. The public has the right to know who the "criminals of humanity" are who have been hiding behind a respectable corporate image.

Cover

No matter how much man plans and protects evil, there is an Almighty God who watches over all deeds. The country's laws must reflect that divine justice. Firm, fair and indiscriminate.

The government must have the courage to move away from old approaches that have proven to be a failure. The revision of the TPPO Law towards an Absolute Ban, the establishment of a Special Department under the President, as well as the implementation of intelligence strategies based on follow the money and corporate blacklists are no longer options but revolutionary imperatives in order to maintain the dignity of the nation.

Do not let the tears and suffering of victims of TPPO continue to be a forgotten annual statistic. It's time for the state to act decisively, not just prevent.