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Headlines

The Ecosoc News Monitor

29 May 2007

Yudhoyono tells embassies to protect Indonesian workers

The Jakarta Post
May 29, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR (Antara): President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Tuesday that Indonesian embassies in all over the globe have to give protection to Indonesians working in their respected countries.

"I often remind ambassadors to give serious attentions to problems faced by Indonesian workers. They are part of solution. They are foreign exchange heroes," he said when visiting Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Therefore, he added, all people in embassies -- immigration offices and foreign ministry -- have to give best services to the workers.

"It is regrettable if officers, who have to serve them, but they seek fortune from them. But thank God that (such illegal practices) could be stopped," he said referring to a number of Indonesian diplomats working in the embassy were named suspects for alleged corruptions.

Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia A.M. Fachir said that some 2,000 Indonesians visited the embassy everyday to apply for various documents. There are millions of Indonesians working in the country both legally and illegally. (**)