Minister Theo faces first demonstration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty activists and relatives of migrant
\nworkers demanded yesterday that new Minister of Manpower Theo L.
\nSambuaga step in and save five Indonesian workers possibly facing
\nthe death penalty abroad.<\/p>\n
Staging a demonstration outside the ministry, the activists of
\nSolidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity) said Warni Sawiran and
\nDimyati Usro may be beheaded if convicted of murders in Saudi
\nArabia. Said Sangkala, Kasman Samad and Erfan Hamid were facing
\npossible execution by hanging in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Be they legal or illegal workers, they are Indonesian
\ncitizens who deserve protection,\" a poster displayed during the
\ndemonstration read.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Manpower's director general of labor
\nplacement, Jack Iskandarsyah, said earlier Dimyati was being
\ntried for allegedly murdering his employer's wife and parents,
\nwhile Warni for allegedly bludgeoning his employer to death.<\/p>\n
No information was available on the three workers standing
\ntrial for alleged murders in Malaysia. If convicted they could
\nface death.<\/p>\n
In yesterday's protest, the activists and relatives of the
\nmigrant workers called for \"suspension\" of death penalties.<\/p>\n
A theatrical act of beheading, performed by a black-clad male
\nactivist, was also staged yesterday. A small number of troops and
\npolice kept a close watch on the protesters from inside the
\nministry compound, which was closed off to the activists as soon
\nas they began their protest.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, a delegation of five led by Solidaritas
\nPerempuan leader Tati Krisnawaty was allowed into the ministry to
\ndeliver their petition. Minister Theo was not in the office, but
\nthe activists were met by information official Hermanto.<\/p>\n
The protesters said Manpower Law No. 25\/1997 failed to provide
\nsufficient protection for migrant workers.<\/p>\n
\"We call on the government to ratify as soon as possible the
\nInternational Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All
\nMigrant Workers and Members of their Families, (which was issued
\nin) 1990,\" they said in their statement.<\/p>\n
Last year, Indonesians were shocked when news broke that a
\nmigrant worker, Solehah Anam Kadiran, had been beheaded in Mecca,
\nSaudi Arabia, in September.<\/p>\n
She had been convicted of killing her employer.<\/p>\n
People were even more outraged when they learned that Nasiroh
\nKarmudin, another female Indonesian worker in Saudi Arabia, also
\nfaced possible execution for a similar crime.<\/p>\n
However, intensive diplomatic efforts worked in Nasiroh's
\nfavor and she escaped the death penalty after one of the murdered
\nman's wives pardoned her. (aan)<\/p>",
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