Migrant Worker Taskforce to focus on TKI on death row

The Migrant Worker Taskforce, established last week as a follow-up to directives from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will initially focus on advocacy for four migrant workers facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, a taskforce member says.

“The advocacy for those four migrant workers is urgent because there are no legal channels left,” taskforce spokesman Humprey Djemat told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday

Humprey was referring to migrant workers Siti Zaenab, Satinah binti Jumadi Ahmad, Aminah binti Hajibudi, and Darmawati binti Taryani.

Siti Zaenab and Satinah are facing the death penalty for allegedly murdering their employers, while Aminah and Darmawati were sentenced for allegedly killing and mutilating the body of another migrant worker.

Humprey said the taskforce would contact relevant Saudi officials, including ulema, to act as mediators between the taskforce and the families and relatives of the victims.

“We will be asking for pardon from family members or relatives, because that's the only way left for those concerned workers to avoid death penalty,” he said.

At least 27 Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) are currently on death row in Saudi Arabia, Humprey said.

The President issued several directives in efforts to protect migrant workers, amid public protests over the shocking execution of Indonesian worker Ruyati binti Satubi in Saudi Arabia last month.

The execution, conducted without notifying Indonesian authorities or Ruyati’s family, angered the Indonesian government, which later recalled its Ambassador in Riyadh in a sign of protest over the execution.

Relations between the two countries somewhat soured following Jakarta's decision to suspend Indonesia’s labor export to Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities later announced a retaliatory policy, also banning work permits for domestic workers from Indonesia. (aaa)