'Child traffickers most active in Batam'

INDRAMAYU, West Java: A woman activist disclosed on Thursday that child traffickers are operating in at least 10 regions of Indonesia. Some areas are located near the Malaysian and Indonesian border, with Batam city tipped as the area with the highest incidence of child trafficking.

Siti Soendjati, an activist with the Jurnal Perempuan Foundation, said that the children -- mostly female and from poor families -- were smuggled to neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, and sold as prostitutes.

The 10 regencies/municipalities include Batam city, Indramayu regency, Bandarlampung city, Pontianak and Sambas regencies, Medan city, Wonogiri regency and Banyuwangi. -- JP