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Indonesia: 19 Indonesian Migrant Workers facing death penalty abroad

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Statement - February 6, 2007

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: migrantcare@nusa.or.id

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
  1. Hafidh Bin Kholil Sulam, Jawa Timur, Saudi Arabia
  2. Eti Thoyib Anwar, Jawa Barat, Saudi Arabia
  3. Nur Makin Sobri, Kalimantan, Saudi Arabia
  4. Barokah, Jawa tengah, Singapore
  5. Darman Agustiri, Sumatera barat, Mesir
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.

Asian Human Rights Commission
19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building,
998 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hongkong S.A.R.
Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339 Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367

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