Condemning it with harsh words is not enough. The government should take legal action, file a law suit.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government should sue Saudi Arabia legally for beheading migrant worker Ruyati binti Satubino to prevent the same thing from happening again in the future, a legislator said.

"Condemning it with harsh words is not enough. The government should take legal action, file a law suit. The government`s action of giving a diplomatic response is clearly not commensurate with the Saudi government`s high-handed action in executing Indonesian citizen Ruyati binti Satubino," said Bambang Soesatyo, a member of the House of Representatives Commission III, here Monday.

He said the legal action to sue the Saudi Arabian government must be immediately be taken lest a similar humiliation is to be experienced again by Indonesia in the future.

Bambang said a lawsuit would admittedly not revive the deceased Ruyati but it would at least ease the burden of suffering of the deceased`s family. "The government should not be a minimalist in addressing this case," he said.

"Sending a strong protest to the Saudi Arabian government will only show the government`s minimalist intention and might not heal the deceased family`s emotional wounds," Bambang said.

The fact that Saudi Arabian authorities did not inform Indonesia about the date on which Ruyati would be executed could be considered a human rights violation perpetrated by the Saudi government, he added.

According to Bambang, because the Saudi authorities failed to inform Indonesian representatives there about the date of Ruyati`s execution in advance, the deceased`s family in Indonesia was made to bear extreme mental and emotional suffering.

"According to proper legal principles, the deceased`s family should have been informed about Ruyati`s fate since the court issued its verdict until the final seconds before her execution," said Bambang.

Bambang said the fact that news on Ruyati`s beheading came all of sudden and caused public shock in Indonesia was evidence that Indonesian representatives in Saudi Arabia had been doing their duties to care for Indonesian citizens there in minimal ways.

According to Bambang, a lawsuit against the Saudi Arabian government was needed to accomplish three things. First, it would show to Ruyati`s family and all Indonesian people that the government really cares about the safety and welfare of every Indonesian citizen wherever they are.

Second, it would show to Ruyati`s family that the government is concerned and struggling to defend the deceased family`s rights. Third, as a message to Saudi Arabia that Indonesia is ready and will always respond very strongly when it violates the rights of Indonesian citizens.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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