Migrant workers arrive home

Dozens of illegal Indonesian migrant workers arrived at the Halim Perdanakusumah air base in East Jakarta from Malaysia on Tuesday.

No one was there to greet the 104 migrants as they emerged from the Air Force Hercules carrier, possibly because the air base is a restricted area.

An official from the immigration office briefed the workers and asked them to fill out immigration forms.

"None of the information you provide will have legal consequences. Indeed, we are trying to protect you from being cheated, which is why you must fill in your real identity," the official said.

The workers took advantage of an amnesty program offered by the Malaysian government before it begins arresting and deporting illegal workers on Jan. 1, 2005. Under the amnesty program, illegal workers are allowed to return home without punishment.

Some of the migrants said they began working illegally in Malaysia after running away from abusive employers and low paying jobs there.

The migrant workers said they registered with the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur after hearing about the amnesty offer.

The workers said they had to pay RM 225 (US$60.80) for the flight on the Hercules, roughly the same price charged by budget carriers for flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.