INDONESIANS DEMAND ACTION ON MIGRANT WORKER ABUSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 002627 SIPDIS SIPDIS EAP/MTS, G/TIP, EAP/RSP, DRL/PHD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ELAB KWMN SMIG ID SUBJECT: INDONESIANS DEMAND ACTION ON MIGRANT WORKER ABUSE CASES Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b)(d). ¶1. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy Kuala Lumpur. ¶2. (C) Summary: Indonesian activists and officials have reacted furiously to a cascade of apparent cases of abuse of Indonesian migrant workers. They are frustrated over seemingly interminable Malaysian court proceedings against alleged abusers. They are also incensed by several severe cases in Saudi Arabia in the past few months that have also received media attention here. According to one NGO, a total of 122 Indonesian workers have died in 12 foreign countries in the first eight months of this year. Although the GOI has limited leverage, lack of progress on this front could impact bilateral ties. End Summary. -------------- A Series of Cases in Malaysia -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Indonesian media and NGOs continue to press relentlessly for justice in the case of Nirmala Bonat, a case which has dragged on for over three years since the maid escaped from severe abuse at a Kuala Lumpur home in May 2004. Indonesian NGOs report that she is not allowed to leave the Indonesian Embassy compound except for sporadic court hearings and that she is extremely depressed. ¶4. (SBU) Other recent cases of abuse or deaths of Indonesian maids in Malaysia have further angered Indonesians. A young woman, Kunasiri, was found dead on August 14. Her employer, Cheng Pei Ee, has been charged with murder in the case, according to Indonesian media reports. ¶5. (SBU) The Indonesian government is also pressing the GOM to prosecute the employers of two maids who allegedly fled extreme abuse, Ceriyati and Parsiti, both of whom climbed out of high-rise apartments to escape. In Ceriyati's case, she was rescued by firefighters on June 16 as she attempted to climb down from a 15th floor apartment using pieces of cloth. She alleges she was escaping severe abuse by her employer. Parsiti was also rescued by firefighters after she tried to climb down pieces of cloth from her employer's 17th floor apartment on August 12. An Indonesian television interview with Parsiti from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur where she took refuge showed Parsiti with badly swollen lips and bruises on her face. Both of these cases are now in �00A;Malaysian courts, according to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. ¶6. (U) Another recently publicized case concerns Maryati, who arrived in Malaysia in April but soon asked her employer, Mrs. Liem, to allow her to return home because she was forced to work from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and was being fed only two spoonfuls of food twice a day, the Indonesian newspaper Koran Tempo reported. Maryati reportedly said she was then beaten and sold to another employer. She managed to flee to nearby Batam, Indonesia. Indonesian authorities promised to look into the case, Koran Tempo reported. Her Batam labor agent reportedly refused to accept responsibility for Maryati. ¶7. (SBU) Altogether, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry lists 15 cases being processed against Malaysians for abuse or killing of Indonesian workers, but no Malaysian employer or Malaysian job broker has ever been convicted, according to Teguh Wardoyo, DEPLU's Director for Protection of Overseas Workers Abroad. The names and dates of these cases include: Nirmala Bonat (May 2004); Darmilah (May 2006); Sanih Nur Wanih (September 2006); Yudista Purwaningtyas (October 2006); Dede Rosliyah (November 2006); Parwati (March 2007); Elena (April 2007); Meriana Bulu (May 2007); Suriani Bt Nas (June 2007); Ceriyati (June 2007); Lilis Bt Warsak (June 2007); Kurniasih (August 2007); Siswati (August 2007); and Yarsi (August 2007). -------------- Saudi Arabian Cases -------------- ¶8. (C) Recent cases of alleged torture of Indonesian domestic servants in Saudi Arabia have also received widespread attention. Four servants were allegedly tortured by a Saudi family. Two died, Siti Tarwiya, and Susmiyati, and two were hospitalized. The GOI and Migrant Care are frustrated because five weeks later, Saudi authorities have still not completed the autopsies and the families want the remains returned. The Indonesian government sent a team to JAKARTA 00002627 002 OF 002 look after the survivors' welfare and has hired a lawyer to pursue the case. Migrant Care Exeutive Director Anis Hidayah said 60 Indonesians have died in Saudi Arabia between January and August. ¶9. (C) Teguh told Labatt that he recently summoned both the Malaysian and Saudi ambassadors to his office to plea for cooperation in protecting Indonesian workers. He said they were not responsive. -------------- A Large Total -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Hidayah said from January to September 14, 2007, 122 Indonesians have died in 12 foreign countries, 87 of them women. Of these, 50 died in Malaysia, half from abuse, Hidayah said. Hidayah said 49 Indonesians have died in Singapore from January to date. Besides Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, Teguh cited Syria and Jordan as the next two biggest trafficking destinations, saying 45,000 Indonesians have been trafficked to Syria through Jordan, and then oftentimes to points beyond. -------------- Dealing With the Problem -------------- ¶11. (C) The Indonesian government says it continues to work with Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, etc., to try to ensure that workers are protected and that all allegations are investigated and, if there is evidence, prosecuted. So far, the GOI is not satisfied with the cooperation it is getting and, based on media play and NGO pressure, the public at large is becoming increasingly engaged. While the GOI has limited leverage, the situation could impact bilateral ties unless there is progress on this front. HUME