Indonesia Protests Saudi Arabia Over Execution Notice Issue

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesian government has sent a protest to the Saudi government for not being notified first ahead of the recent execution of its citizen in that country. \"We have sent a letter to the Saudi government to ask why it was not notified about the execution,\" Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated here on Tuesday night. She noted that the Indonesian government and people had learnt about the execution but were not informed about it in advance. \"We did not receive any information with regard to the execution,\" she claimed. On behalf of the Indonesian government, the minister expressed her condolences to the bereaved family and prayed that the deceased would be given a decent place beside Him. She said the Indonesian government remains resolved to always optimally protect its citizens abroad. \"No one should question our stance and policy with regard to protecting our citizens,\" she added. Referring to the government\'s actions in situations such as the evacuation of its citizens in Yemen, Minister Retno affirmed that the government remained committed to protecting its citizens including those facing legal problems in other countries. With regard to the case of the executed citizen in Saudi Arabia, Minister Retno said she had already reported the matter to President Joko Widodo. \"We have taken all efforts including through diplomatic channels, legal avenues, and approaching the family of the victim as well as sending a presidential letter and during my meeting with Saudi deputy foreign minister in March (to ask for a pardon),\" she noted. She revealed that maximum efforts had been taken including offering compensation money and \"because they apply Qisas as their legal system, hence the decision (to pardon) is fully in the hands of the family of the victim.\" In response to the execution, President Widodo also expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and has ordered to maintain the government\'s commitment to protect its citizens. She said the government has also offered help to the grieving family including facilitating them to go to Saudi Arabia to look after the deceased. \"Tonight, a team from the foreign affairs ministry will go to Bangkalan to meet the bereaved family,\" she noted. The Saudi government has executed Siti Zaenab binti Duhri Rupa hailing from Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, after being convicted of killing her employer. Siti was executed at 10 a.m. local time, on April 14, but the Indonesian government had not been notified about it before.(*)