1,000 RI citizens detained in Jeddah taint Indonesia's image

More than 500 Indonesians with visa issues rallied in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Jeddah on Wednesday, and they got what they wanted: to be apprehended by the Saudi Arabian authorities, given decent accommodations at the immigration detention facility, and then sent on board a free flight home.

Another 500, knowing the trick has worked quite nicely, came to the Indonesian embassy the next day to do precisely the same thing. The protesters have all been evacuated to the immigration detention facility.

"A total of 1028 Indonesians have been detained,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told a weekly press conference Friday.

He said that while he was glad the protesters' security was not compromised, their actions were disgraceful to Indonesia.

"Those detained have overstayed as per their visas, but refused to pay fines," Faizasyah said.

They are mostly illegal migrant workers, including those who ran away from their workplaces, and also Haj and umrah pilgrims who dared to travel to Jeddah without having the money to buy a return ticket.

The protesters resided under bridges in deplorable conditions to attract attention.

"The Indonesian government has now coordinated their deportation with the authorities in Saudi Arabia," Faizasyah concluded.