Migrant workers arrive home

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.