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Jokowi shows support for Satinah
Governor Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has publicly displayed his support toward Satinah, a female Indonesian migrant worker from Semarang regency, Central Java, who is facing death by beheading in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murdering her employer
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overnor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has publicly displayed his support toward Satinah, a female Indonesian migrant worker from Semarang regency, Central Java, who is facing death by beheading in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of murdering her employer.
Jokowi's support included providing assistance to pay the diya (financial compensation paid to a victim's kin) set by the family of Satinah's former employer, Nura Al Gharib.
Satinah was named a suspect in relation to the murder of her female employer in Gaseem, Saudi Arabia, and the theft of 37,970 riyals (US$10,125), in June 2007.
Satinah reportedly admitted her wrongdoings and was jailed in Gaseem in 2009 until her appeal in 2010, after which she was sentenced to death. Satinah should have faced execution in August 2011, but the date was extended three times, first to December 2011 and then to December 2012 and June 2013.
Members of the victim's family have said they would accept an apology if the Indonesian government paid compensation of 10 million riyals. After negotiations, the diya was reduced to 7 million riyals. Currently, 4 million riyals have been collected.
'We are still short of Rp 9 billion. Today I call on all of you to lend a hand and help our sister Satinah,' Jokowi said at City Hall, while symbolically placing Rp 10,000 into a charity box organized by Migrant Care.
Migrant Care chairwoman Anis Hidayah declined to reveal the actual amount provided by the governor.
Jokowi also urged the government to stop sending Indonesian workers to countries that have yet to sign written agreements with Indonesia.
'Unskilled workers are prone to domestic violence and they struggle to voice their rights. We have to protect them by not sending them unprepared,' Jokowi said, pointing out that he would tighten permit regulations in Jakarta, where 80 percent of manpower placement agencies (PJTKI) operate.
Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, legislator from House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing manpower and transmigration, pointed out that paying diya should not be the only solution to such cases in the future.
'The government should provide proper legal assistance, something that Satinah did not get in 2007," the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician said.
Rieke also played down speculation that the governor's gesture was part of his campaign to lure support. Jokowi has been nominated by the PDI-P to run in the presidential election, slated for July.
'If you were Satinah, wouldn't you wish for support from someone like Jokowi?' she pointed out.
According to Migrant Care, 265 Indonesian migrants working in countries like Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are facing capital punishment for various crimes, including murdering their employers.
In 2011, two Indonesians, Ruyati and Tuti Tursilawati, were both beheaded for murder in Saudi Arabia. Fellow Indonesians Warni and Yanti Irianti were also sentenced to death for murder, in 2000 and 2008 respectively.
