Monday, July 16, 2007
Tanjung Pinang
Migrant workers arriving in Tanjung Pinang after being deported from Malaysia should not expect a warm welcome from officials.
Immediately upon arriving at Sri Bintan Pura Port in the city of Tanjung Pinang, Riau Islands province, they are ordered to squat under the blazing sun while waiting for transportation.
Ria, who was among a group of 197 workers deported from Malaysia arriving at the port aboard the Marina Master ferry, expressed surprise and anger at being made to squat while waiting for transportation to a shelter.
"We are used to being treated unkindly in Malaysia, but why are we treated like this here, having to squat?" asked the 27-year-old native of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, who had worked in Malaysia since 2005.
"But I cant' say anything. The most important thing is I'm back home," she said.
She also voiced trepidation over the treatment the deported workers could expect at the shelter.
"This kind of treatment is the same kind of treatment I received when I was in jail in Malaysia."
Deported migrant workers arrive at the port from Malaysia every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
It is common practice for the workers to be made to squat while waiting to be taken to the shelter in the back of trucks.
The shelter is located outside of the Tanjung Pinang city limits.
Sobirin, a native of Jember in East Java, said he was exhausted having to squat for such long periods.
"There's no way I could run, I'm old. If I have to stay squatting like this, my legs will give out. Why does it have to be like this?" he asked.
But instead of blaming the authorities, he said maybe it was simply his destiny to be abused.
"No worry, I'm used to this kind of thing and I don't have the strength to refuse the order to stay squatting," he said.
If one of the workers refuses to squat, officials from the public order office will take physical action. There are no exceptions, including women and the elderly.
Asked to comment, several public order officers from the Tanjung Pinang city administration said the treatment given to the deported migrant workers was to single them out from other passengers.
Since early July, 367 deported migrant workers have passed through Tanjung Pinang's port.
Fadli
