Cambodia rescues another 59 trafficked laborers from Thai fishing vessels in Indonesia

Cambodia has saved another 59 Cambodian people, who were trafficked to work as illegal fishermen in Indonesia, Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Wednesday.

"With the cooperation from the Indonesian authorities, the Cambodian Embassy (to Indonesia) has rescued 21 Cambodian laborers from Thai fishing vessels in Ambon Island and 38 others from Thai fishing boats in Benjina Island in Indonesia," he said in a news statement.

The spokesman said the first group will return to Cambodia later this week, as the second one will arrive in the first week of next month.

Early this month, a group of 59 Cambodian trafficked laborers was also rescued from fishing vessels in Indonesia and returned home on May 11.

Trafficked fishermen are frequently forced to work long hours while being physically and psychologically abused. They are often unpaid and forced to serve on voyages for months or even years. Endi