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eferring to your article titled “Workers send home $6 billion” dated Jan. 2, I wish to highlight some relevant facts related to the government’s efforts in protecting Indonesian nationals abroad.

The government has always been responsive to the plight of Indonesians overseas and worked hard to protect and assist them. The efforts have resulted in many accomplishments.

In 2011, for instance, a total of 16,562 students and migrant workers were evacuated, most of them from the Middle East region torn by political violence, and 7,926 Indonesians who had overstayed in Saudi Arabia were repatriated. All 61 Indonesian sailors held hostage in 2011 were released.

The Indonesian mission in Malaysia has also facilitated the issuance of 640,000 new passports for Indonesian migrant workers, helped 35 Indonesian nationals escape the death penalty (commuted to a prison sentence), with four of them having reunited with their respective families in Indonesia.

Serious efforts are now being taken by the government to deal with death sentences in Saudi Arabia and in other countries.

Much has been worked out, but certainly more needs to be done, particularly in terms of protecting Indonesian workers abroad.

Efforts to improve the quality of protection and service for Indonesian migrant workers will, therefore, continue to be strengthened. Promoting an environment that prevents and addresses violence and discrimination against them is one of the priorities.

P.L.E. Priatna
Director for Information and Media,
Foreign Ministry
Jakarta