78 Indonesians to be Deported After Jeddah Incident

By Amie Fenia Arimbi Nusa Dua, Bali (Antara) - About 78 Indonesians who are being detained by authority in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for their involvement in a stampede in front of the Indonesian consulate will be deported soon, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Thursday. "The embassy is aware of the deportation plan and has provided adequate assistance. However it must be noted that we have to abide by the local law," said the minister adding that all 78 are being detained in a center for deportation, not in jail. Last June 9, a stampede happened in front of the Indonesian consulate in Jeddah after thousands of Indonesian migrant workers who had been waiting for hours in front of the consulate to obtain documents in lieu of passport (SPLP) turned violent. An Indonesian is reportedly died in the incident. "The victim was trapped in a queue of thousands of Indonesians wanting to get legal documents for their stay in Saudi Arabia. The queuing turned into chaotic situation that killed one Indonesian," Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesman Michael Tene said. He explained the Indonesian Consulate office since May 13 until July 3 is offering service for Indonesians living in Saudi Arabia to register themselves and complete the required documents to stay in Saudi Arabia. The policy is made after Saudi Arabian government announced it will give the chance for illegal foreign workers to work in the country as long as they can complete the documents required to stay. "During the past weeks there have been thousands of Indonesian workers who come to the consulate office to get the documents. The process runs smoothly. We regret to see the chaotic situation happening last Sunday. Right now the consulate general has added more officers to fasten the process for those workers to get their documents," said the spokesman. (*)