Garuda to join in airlift of workers from Saudi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National airlines Garuda Indonesia will join in
\nthe airlift to bring home 10,000 Indonesian workers from Saudi
\nArabia.<\/p>\n
\"We have prepared six extra flights in addition to the three
\nweekly regular flights,\" Garuda president Soepandi said after
\nmeeting with President Soeharto at Bina Graha presidential office
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces has already committed four Hercules C-130
\ntransport planes.<\/p>\n
The government has targeted that the workers arrive home on
\nNov. 8.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto met senior government officials yesterday
\nto discuss the repatriation operation.<\/p>\n
Among those present were Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief,
\nchief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board Moetojib,
\nChief of the Armed Forces' general affairs Lt. Gen. Tarub and the
\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs' director general of foreign economic
\nrelations Soemadi Brotodiningrat.<\/p>\n
\"The President ordered us to bring home all problem workers at
\nthe government's expense,\" Latief said.<\/p>\n
According to Latief, an earlier plan to deploy Navy ships has
\nbeen scrapped because it would be too costly and take too long.<\/p>\n
Latief said Garuda had reduced their rate to transport the
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
\"We (the Ministry of Manpower) are paying US$270 person. This
\nfare is very cheap because it is normally $420... Garuda is
\nactually suffering a loss,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Each Garuda flight is expected to transport at least 250
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The problem workers were netted in a massive operation
\nlaunched by the Saudi government following a three-month amnesty
\nperiod for 100,000 illegal foreigners which expired last week.<\/p>\n
More than 364,000 workers from Indonesia, the world's largest
\nMoslem nation, work legally in Saudi Arabia, mostly as
\nhousemaids, laborers, drivers and nurses.<\/p>\n
Threat<\/p>\n
The Saudi government has threatened to punish foreigners who
\noverstay their visas or do not have complete immigration
\ndocuments with a minimum six-month jail term or a maximum fine of
\nUS$26,000.<\/p>\n
\"About 80 percent of our illegal workers there overstayed
\nafter performing the Moslem minor haj pilgrimage and the haj
\npilgrimage, while 20 percent have working permit problems,\"
\nLatief said.<\/p>\n
He said it was difficult to trace the whereabouts of
\noverstaying workers because their names were not registered at
\nthe Indonesian Embassy or consulates.<\/p>\n
\"Age forgery is also a problem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The minister also complained that the Saudi government was
\noften late informing Indonesia when a worker was in trouble.<\/p>\n
\"This is our problem with the Saudis... and we feel that the
\nSaudi government often remains silent with us,\" Latief said.<\/p>\n
According to Latief, 7,000 people are waiting to be taken home
\nat the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah. Another 2,900 at
\nthe Haj Center in Jeddah and 100 in Riyadh are also waiting to
\nreturn.<\/p>\n
\"This number is expected to increase further. Since we
\ncoordinated efforts to take them home on Oct. 15 we have sent
\nback 1,276,\" Latief said.<\/p>\n
When asked about the fate of female worker Nasiroh, 24, who is
\nfacing a possible death penalty, Latief said: \"We have sent our
\nlawyer to defend her. She was accused of shooting her employer,
\nbut local officers found that she did not even know how to use a
\ngun.\"<\/p>\n
Nasiroh is waiting to be tried for murdering her male employer
\nin 1994. The Indonesian maid reportedly shot him after he
\nsexually harassed her.<\/p>\n
Latief said Nasiroh's family had been sent to Saudi Arabia to
\nmeet with her, while Indonesian diplomats were closely following
\nthe case.<\/p>\n
Last month another Indonesian maid, Soleha Anam Kadiran, was
\nbeheaded for murdering her employer.<\/p>\n
\"We will defend our citizens. This is a matter of dignity,\"
\nLatief said. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/garuda-to-join-in-airlift-of-workers-from-saudi-1447893297",
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