Migrant workers and execution

Migrant workers and execution

From Sinar Pagi

On Oct. 24, at about 6.30 a.m. local time, ANteve interviewed
two Indonesian migrant workers who had just arrived from Saudi
Arabia. One of them was called Evi, but I can't remember the
other's name. They had been called home at the government's cost
because they had problems with their work permits. She disclosed
some interesting things, about which, unfortunately, the ANteve
interviewer did not care to find out more. These are as follows:

1. According to Evi, she was treated inhumanely (including an
attempted rape) by her boss. She therefore ran away from her work
place and made a report to the representative office of the
Indonesian embassy in the city where she was employed. Which city
was not clear from the interview. This representative office, she
said, did not take any action to follow up her report.

2. As far as the duty of Indonesia's representative offices
abroad are concerned, the government must clarify whether or not
this particular office in Saudi Arabia responded at all to the
problem reported by Evi. Until now the government has not given a
full explanation about this.

3. According to Evi, one of her friends, now living in Sukabumi,
had both her legs broken in the ill treatment she received from
her boss in Saudi Arabia. When will the authorities investigate
this?

4. Why are there so many migrant workers with problems? Why, in
the case of Soleha, another female migrant worker, did the report
on her situation arrive in Indonesia when she had already been
beheaded. Unless the government clarifies all of this the public
will continue to harbor prejudice against the government. Is the
fact that we are too occupied with the forthcoming general
assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and also
with presidential and vice presidential nominees the reason
behind the absence of this clarification?

5. Recently, as reported on television, Minister of Religious
Affairs Tarmizi Taher has, in the context of fostering
cooperation, visited Saudi Arabia several times. We believe that
he is competent to give an explanation about the problems
encountered by Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia,
problems forming part of the life of our fellow countrymen of the
lower social class.

NANNY SRIANY

Jakarta