Open letter to the Malaysian Ambassador

Open letter to the Malaysian Ambassador

From Republika

Your Excellency,

With this letter, we, Women Solidarity, an NGO concerned with issues related to migrant workers, wish to put forward some matters relative to the protection of Indonesian workers in Malaysia.

A few days ago, we were all startled by the sad news of the death of eight Indonesian illegal workers and a Malaysian policeman as a result of a riot in the Semenyih immigration detention camp.

So far, there have been no reports in the media -- Indonesian, Malaysian or other international media -- regarding the identity of the eight victims, the number of missing people and the number of injured people. We are in close contact with the families of the workers in several regions in Indonesia. They are worried and restless about the lack of clear information.

We are aware that the problem of illegal workers is the responsibility of both sides, the Indonesian and the Malaysian government. The huge flow of illegal workers is the result of complex bureaucracy and the high cost attached to it, the slack control on the mafia in the trade of workers and the tolerance of parties which make a profit from employing illegal workers.

A number of incidents have shown that the illegal workers have to bear the heaviest burden because of the weakness in their position and protection -- both in the country of origin and in the country of destination. They must face various problems in the country of destination, such as extortion, violence, sexual abuse and expropriation of property painstakingly acquired. These are phenomena contrary to the International Convention of 1990 on the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families, which, regrettably, has not been ratified either by the Malaysian or the Indonesian government.

In consideration of the above, we wish, by this simple letter, to urge the Malaysian government to take the following steps:

1. Publish immediately the names of the dead illegal workers and of people injured as a result of the riots in the Semenyih immigration detention camp.

2. Cease the violent actions of the Malaysian security forces, including the expropriation of the illegal workers' property.

3. Postpone deportation until publishing the identity of the workers detained at the immigration detention camp.

4. Determine policies that are more humanitarian in responding to the matter of illegal workers.

We thank you, Your Excellency, for your concern and cooperation.

TATY KRISNAWATI

Chairwoman of the Executive Board

of Women Solidarity

Jakarta