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Family of slain migrant workers join rallies seeking answers from Malaysia
Jakarta Globe - May 2, 2012
Dessy Sagita & Fitri – Workers used nationwide rallies marking Labor Day on Tuesday to call on the government to push for a full investigation into the recent shooting deaths of three migrant workers in Malaysia.
Thousands of workers from several labor unions urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to respond to the March shootings, in which three men from Lombok were shot by the police in Malaysia as they allegedly attempted to carry out a robbery.
"Indonesia's migrant workers are the largest foreign exchange contributors in the country. As fellow workers, we must defend them," Said Iqbal, the president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), told a massive rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.
He urged the government to withdraw all Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia until their protection could be guaranteed. "We strongly condemn the inhumane action by the Malaysian police. If necessary, we can mobilize a solidarity movement to occupy the Malaysian Embassy," Iqbal said.
Indonesian police are seeking an explanation from their Malaysian counterparts for the deaths of the Lombok migrant workers – Herman, 34, Abdul Kadir Jaelani, 25, and Mad Noon, 28.
Dozens of activists held a rally in front of the Malaysian Embassy to protest the shootings. "Today we are here to condemn this police action," said Hartoyo, secretary general of the activist group Ourvoice, one of those organizing the protest at the embassy.
Among the protesters was Maksum, the father of Herman. "It was clearly savage and inhumane. Despite doubts over the actions of the workers, they were shot dead," Maksum said.
Nurmawi, the elder brother of Jaelani, said he had accepted the death of the brother, but not the way he died.
Anis Hidayah, the executive director of Migrant Care, said the activist group was planning to report the three deaths, as well as the alleged unresponsiveness of officials at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, to the United Nations Universal Periodic Report meeting on May 23.
The Indonesian Council of Workers (MPBI) demanded the government declare Labor Day on May 1 as an official holiday. The group also called for a ban on labor outsourcing.
[Additional reporting from Antara.]
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