"The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been negotiating with the victims family, since it is impossible and unreasonable to ask Rp25 billions as amends," Coordinating Minister of Political Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto stated in Jogjakarta, on Monday.
The Coordinating Minister of Political Legal and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, explained at a press conference, during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonos visit to Jogjakarta, that the Indonesian government, through its embassy in Riyadh, has been involved with Sutinahs case since it entered the legal process.
"The Indonesian government has been lobbying with the government of Saudi Arabia and the family of the victim to ease Sutinahs legal process," Djoko pointed out.
The efforts included an appeal and President Yudhoyonos letter to the king of Saudi Arabia that finally gained a result of remission for Sutinah. But, according to the Saudi Arabian law, the most important key to release Sutinah from the death sentence would be the victims familys pardon.
"This is the main obstacle as even though the government has given its remission but it still requires 100 percent forgiveness from the victims family," Djoko reiterated.
Thus far, the special team that was created by the government to handle the legal processes for Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, has also frequently visited the victims family to negotiate the value as amends for Sutinah, but the family insists on getting Rp25 billion.
"Conventionally, the amends was valued about 100 to 150 camels or about Rp1.5 to Rp2 billion," Djoko pointed out.
Minister Djoko Suyanto stressed that the Indonesian government did not agree to the amends for Sutinah as it was a commodity to gain personal profit and had asked the public to understand Sutinahs case thoroughly and the efforts that had been put by the government to ease her sentence.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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