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