Minister Theo faces first demonstration

JAKARTA (JP): Thirty activists and relatives of migrant workers demanded yesterday that new Minister of Manpower Theo L. Sambuaga step in and save five Indonesian workers possibly facing the death penalty abroad.

Staging a demonstration outside the ministry, the activists of Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity) said Warni Sawiran and Dimyati Usro may be beheaded if convicted of murders in Saudi Arabia. Said Sangkala, Kasman Samad and Erfan Hamid were facing possible execution by hanging in Malaysia.

"Be they legal or illegal workers, they are Indonesian citizens who deserve protection," a poster displayed during the demonstration read.

The Ministry of Manpower's director general of labor placement, Jack Iskandarsyah, said earlier Dimyati was being tried for allegedly murdering his employer's wife and parents, while Warni for allegedly bludgeoning his employer to death.

No information was available on the three workers standing trial for alleged murders in Malaysia. If convicted they could face death.

In yesterday's protest, the activists and relatives of the migrant workers called for "suspension" of death penalties.

A theatrical act of beheading, performed by a black-clad male activist, was also staged yesterday. A small number of troops and police kept a close watch on the protesters from inside the ministry compound, which was closed off to the activists as soon as they began their protest.

Later in the day, a delegation of five led by Solidaritas Perempuan leader Tati Krisnawaty was allowed into the ministry to deliver their petition. Minister Theo was not in the office, but the activists were met by information official Hermanto.

The protesters said Manpower Law No. 25/1997 failed to provide sufficient protection for migrant workers.

"We call on the government to ratify as soon as possible the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, (which was issued in) 1990," they said in their statement.

Last year, Indonesians were shocked when news broke that a migrant worker, Solehah Anam Kadiran, had been beheaded in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in September.

She had been convicted of killing her employer.

People were even more outraged when they learned that Nasiroh Karmudin, another female Indonesian worker in Saudi Arabia, also faced possible execution for a similar crime.

However, intensive diplomatic efforts worked in Nasiroh's favor and she escaped the death penalty after one of the murdered man's wives pardoned her. (aan)