Jakarta – Forced migration and human trafficking, two deeply interconnected phenomena, are among the most serious crises affecting the Asian continent. In the face of the ongoing maritime tragedies in the Bay of Bengal, Catholic communities in South and Southeast Asia—particularly in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia—are called to a “choral compassion” aimed at creating networks of welcome and humanitarian corridors to protect migrants from human traffickers.
Father Ignatius Ismartono, an Indonesian Jesuit active in Jakarta in the fight against human trafficking with the organization ‘Sahabat Insan’ , shared these reflections in an interview with Fides. The Jesuit renews the appeal to compassion expressed by bishops at the recent Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences , recalling the tragedies unfolding in what has been described as the “Mediterranean of Asia.”
The term refers to the maritime area stretching from the northern part of the Bay of Bengal to the Indonesian province of Aceh, located at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra.
The Rohingya emergency
The latest episode that has provoked outrage and concern involves the Rohingya people, who continue to travel along one of the deadliest maritime migration routes in the world. Two boats carrying more than 500 people capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent weeks.
“According to preliminary information,stated a joint communiqué from the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Refugee Agency , “the two boats departed from Myanmar’s Rakhine State at the end of June, carrying mainly Rohingya passengers. Among them were people from the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. One of the boats, believed to have been carrying around 250 people, sank shortly after departure. The second, with approximately 280 people on board, capsized on July 8 off the coast of Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.”
For Father Ismartono, “this is one of the most serious maritime disasters involving refugees in recent years. International agencies have urged governments in the region to strengthen search-and-rescue operations and to uphold their international obligations to protect those fleeing violence and persecution. They have also called for greater international cooperation to address the root causes of forced displacement and to create safe pathways for refugees.”
The Jesuit notes: “As the bishops of Asia have emphasized, this tragedy echoes the appeals of Pope Leo XIII to defend the dignity of every human person, especially migrants and refugees forced to leave their homes in search of safety.”
A transnational ecclesial action
The Jesuit shares the proposal of Bishop Socrates Mesiona, Bishop of Puerto Princesa and president of the Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, who highlighted “the urgency of ecclesial action at a transnational level.”
Forced migration in South Asia, the bishop said, “can no longer be treated by governments simply as a social burden or a legal problem.”
Father Ismartono adds that Catholic communities in Southeast Asian countries “feel called to participate in the mission of safeguarding the dignity of every person. They are called to make themselves available wherever the State fails or is unable to reach, promoting appropriate forms of pastoral outreach and reception.”
According to United Nations data, in 2026 alone more than 5,400 Rohingya have attempted dangerous journeys by sea. Humanitarian agencies describe the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea as among the world’s most dangerous migration routes. In 2025, more than 6,500 Rohingya fled by sea, with nearly 900 reported dead or missing.
The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority from Myanmar, have endured decades of discrimination, forced displacement, violence and denial of citizenship, leaving many stateless. Many remain confined to Rakhine State, while around 1.2 million continue to live in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
In this context, limited opportunities for education, employment and resettlement push many to undertake dangerous sea crossings. On one side, violence and conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State; on the other, declining humanitarian assistance and worsening living conditions in Bangladesh’s refugee camps continue to drive thousands of families into the hands of human traffickers, who organize sea journeys that frequently end in tragedy.
The field commitment of “Sahabat Insan”
Father Ismartono views the phenomenon from the privileged and practical perspective of “Sahabat Insan,” an organization officially recognized both by the Indonesian state and by the Catholic Church. This commitment, he explains, is “deeply rooted in Ignatian spirituality and in the principles of Catholic social dcotrine, and is founded on the protection of human dignity.”
The people assisted, he recalls, “are not considered mere numbers or statistical cases, but human beings endowed with an intrinsic and inviolable dignity—people in whom the face of Christ is revealed.”
“Sahabat Insan” operates according to the principles of compassion and proximity, opening itself to cooperation with networks of other faith in order to combat the global scourge of human trafficking, which is deeply rooted in the Bay of Bengal region.
“Southeast Asia, with its many nations,” the Jesuit explains, “is severely affected by illegal labor recruitment and human trafficking.” For this reason, the organization provides protection and direct assistance to victims, establishing systems of reception and offering psychological, legal and healthcare support to Indonesian migrant workers and those from neighboring countries who have fallen into the hands of traffickers. It also runs social reintegration programs to help survivors safely rebuild their lives within the local social and economic fabric.
“Prevention and awareness are extremely important,” he notes. “That is why we promote educational campaigns and seminars to inform communities and potential migrants about the dangers posed by traffickers, who often exploit poverty and lack of education by falsifying documents with the complicity of corrupt officials.”
In the effort to combat a phenomenon involving multiple actors—including governments, security forces and civil society—cooperation with other organizations, such as the Catholic sisters’ network Talitha Kum and the Jesuit Refugee Service, is essential to monitor migration flows and facilitate safe returns.
“Since trafficking is a transnational crime without borders,” he observes, “the response of the Church and civil society must be equally coordinated and global. For this reason, we are fully integrated into the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific .”
Building on this cooperation, the effort extends beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church to engage institutions and governments within the ASEAN region .
“To parliamentarians of ASEAN countries,” he states, “we ask that the prevention of human trafficking be included directly in national school curricula, in cooperation with secular NGOs and the whole of civil society.”
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