Cambodia has rescued 17 Cambodian laborers, who were trafficked to work as illegal fishermen on Thai fishing boats in Indonesia, Foreign Ministry's spokesman Koy Kuong said Wednesday.

"With the cooperation from the Indonesian authorities, the Cambodian Embassy to Indonesia has saved 17 Cambodian laborers, who had been cheated by ringleaders to work illegally on Thai fishing boats," he said in a press statement. "The victims had been rescued when the boats illegally fished over Indonesian maritime territory."

He said the victims will be repatriated to Cambodia soon.

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

As they have no documentation, they are often unable to seek protection from the authorities in Thailand or abroad.

In October, Cambodia also rescued 20 trafficked laborers from Thai fishing boats in Indonesia. Endi

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