WE HAVE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT FROM ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL:
INDONESIA: 19 Indonesian Migrant Workers facing death penalty abroad
Indonesian government needs to be more serious in dealing with the
matter
The problems of Indonesian migrant workers facing the death penalty
abroad has never been seriously and systematically dealt with by the
Indonesian missions within the program protecting the rights of the
Indonesian Migrant workers.
From 1999 to 2006, there have been more than 32 Indonesian Migrant
workers facing the death penalty in the receiving nations such as
Singapore, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. Out of the 32, 19 have already
been freed from death penalty while the rest are still languishing in
jails awaiting court proceedings.
According to an official statement from the Indonesia Consulate
General Office in Jedah, there are 4 Indonesian Migrant workers
currently awaiting execution.
If we review the track records of the Republic of Indonesia's Migrant
Workers Protection Programs, we will find many drawbacks that need to
be addressed:
Firstly, In 1999, President Abdurrahman Wahid had tried save Siti
Zaenab from the death penalty in Saudi Arabia through his diplomatic
efforts but was ignored. After President Abdurrahman Wahid, his
successors, Megawati and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have continued to
fight for the life of Siti. It was a happy ending that Siti Zaenab
finally escaped the death gallows through President Gusdur's
diplomatic efforts.
Secondly, The Indonesia Embassy in Malaysia has been very slow in
responding to the death penalty cases. They have either not been
informed or ignored the matter. Suhaidi Bin Asnawi, Lili Ardi Sinaga
dan Hasanuddin Sinring are victims of the negligence of the KBRI;
these migrant workers were denied their rights to legal
representation by the present of KBRI officers. Their families were
also kept in the dark about the death penalty.
Thirdly, It is a very common knowledge that Indonesian foreign
missions abroad have neglected their national duties to protect its
citizens abroad. In many cases, the government only looks at the
aspect of providing legal aid for the legal proceedings whilst
ignoring the rights of information and to be present at the hearings.
Fourthly, the Republic of Indonesia has very little commitment to
preventing the drastic increase of the death penalty incident from
befalling its migrant nationals.
Based on these crucial threats of death penalty against the
Indonesian Migrant Workers, We, Migrant Care, make clear our stand:
1. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must increase diplomatic
efforts to save the life of Indonesian Citizens. Such effort were
fruitfully carried out by Former President Abdurrahman Wahid. It is
something that President SBY needs to adopt as his commitment to
protects the Indonesian Migrant Workers.
2. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia must take a serious
stand in protecting its Migrant workers who are facing death penalty.
3. The Republic of Indonesia Government and its overseas missions
must be more active and more routinely inform the victims' families
and the public about the plight of the Indonesian Migrant workers
abroad.
Migrant CARE:
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&gt;
Name, place of origin and destination
1 Suhaidi Bin Asnawi,Desa/Kec Kediri Kab. Lombok Barat NTB, Malaysia
2 Lili Ardi Sinaga, Dusun Temurong Pematang Siantar Sumut, Malaysia
3 Hasanuddin Sinring, Makasar, Malaysia
4 Noni Fitria, Binjai Sumut, Malaysia
5 Nazaruddin Bin Daud, Malaysia
6 Tarmidzi Bin Yacob, Aceh, Malaysia
7 Armiadi Bin Ismail, Aceh, Malaysia
8 Bustaman Bin Buchori, Aceh, Malaysia
9 Abdul Jalil Bin Abdul Hamid, Aceh, Malaysia
10 Ruslan Dedeh, Aceh, Malaysia
11 Nuraini Binti Sadi, Aceh, Malaysia
12 Izudan Kazuadi, Aceh, Malaysia
13 Suwarni, Saudi Arabia
14 Siti Zaenab, Jl Kemuning RT 02 RW 1 Desa Martajasah Bangkalan
Jatim Jawa Timur
Saudi Arabia
15 Hafidh Bin Kholil Sulam, Jawa Timur, Saudi Arabia
16 Eti Thoyib Anwar, Jawa Barat, Saudi Arabia
17 Nur Makin Sobri, Kalimantan, Saudi Arabia
18 Barokah, Jawa tengah, Singapore
19 Darman Agustiri, Sumatera barat, Mesir
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional
non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights
issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
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