We are disappointed because the government was not aware of the beheading of our migrant worker in Saudi Arabia, last Saturday (June 18).
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said the government will send a formal protest to the Saudi Arabian government over the execution of an Indonesian migrant worker and recall its ambassador to the kingdom.

The actions would be taken , in reaction to the beheading of Ruyati binti Satubi, an Indonesian female migrant worker (TKI).

"We will also recall Ambassador Gatot Abudllah Mansyur from Riyadh, and keep the ambassadorial post in Saudi Arabia vacant until the issue is clear, and the condition of TKI placement is improved there. Ambassador Gatot is expected to return home today," Marty said at a hearing with the House of Representatives` Commission I at the Parliament Building here Monday.

The minister said the government would take a firm stance and react strongly to the beheading of the female migrant worker.

According to the minister, a total of 303 migrant workers had been threatened with death penalties overseas over the past 20 years. The government had managed to help 12 of them escape the death penalty , the minister said.

"To save hundreds of TKIs who are facing the death penalty , the foreign ministry will form a team to fight at the international level, to prevent the execution of the death sentences," Marty said.

In the case of Ruyati, the minister said Indonesian representatives had tried optimally to ensure that Ruyati`s rights were fully respected during the proceedings. But the Saudi Arabian authorities had executed her without first informing the Indonesian government.

"And this is not the first time that Saudi Arabia did it. Indians and Nigerians were also executed by Saudi Arabia without first informing their governments," he said.

Chairman of the DPR`s Commission I working meeting Mahfud Sidiq on the occasion said the beheading of the migrant worker had disturbed the Indonesian people.

"We are disappointed because the government was not aware of the beheading of our migrant worker in Saudi Arabia, last Saturday (June 18)," he said. (T.SYS/A/F001/F001)

(ANTARA)

Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011