MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 9, 2014) – Through determination, hard work and broad support of fellow migrants and advocates, abused Indonesian domestic helper Erwiana Sulistyaningsih’s right was asserted and gained and is now under the care of the Mission for Migrant Workers and is looking forward to accomplishing the objectives of her Hong Kong visit.
The MFMW said it is regrettable that Erwiana was put in a stressful and difficult condition since she arrived April 7 afternoon in relation to the issue of her accommodation. Even before she arrived, she already expressed her wish to avail of the arrangements that the mission made for her and her companions.
However, her decision was disregarded and when she arrived, despite the presence of the MFMW at the airport to welcome and assist her, Erwiana and her father and Indonesian lawyer were summarily whisked off and taken to the Indonesian Consulate General, accprding to the mission.
“The Hong Kong public may be wondering why Erwiana refused to stay in the ICG’s premises. Definitely, this decision of Erwiana was not an arbitrary wish,” MFMW said.
It said from Erwiana’s experience, Indonesian government authorities are yet to prove their sincerity and consistency in supporting her desire to seek justice. Just before she came to Hong Kong, a memorandum from Indonesia’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs surfaced that included instructions for Erwiana’s former employment agency to shoulder the expenses of her Hong Kong visit.
She, however, rightly decided to not accept such arrangement. It will indeed be unethical and imprudent to accept assistance from the agency that may have played a big role in putting her in the situation she experienced while she was working in Hong Kong, it added.
“Aside from this, how could Erwiana also forget the prodding of Indonesian labour officials for her to accept settlements and not pursue any complaint for what has been done to her?”
“Erwiana’s confidence with Indonesian authorities was also not boosted by their treatment of Rian and Karsiwen, her two female companions from day one. The former was the first one to discover her plight and the latter has been assisting with her case in Indonesia,” MFMW said.
Despite the two’s role in strengthening the spirit and morale of Erwiana, the Indonesian consulate general has been constantly dismissive of them, the mission said, adding it was through the effort of the MFMW and the Indonesian migrants, and not through the Indonesian government, that the two were able to come to Hong Kong to lend support to Erwiana.
The Consulate also did not initially provide Rian and Karsiwen with accommodation and food the night of their flight to Hong Kong. Upon their arrival, the consulate even allowed Erwiana and her two close female companions to get separated as they whisked off Erwiana and left the two at the holding room of the Immigration Department. “What happened to her female companions who are extremely important members of her support system added stress to Erwiana and made her distraught,” the mission said.
With such experiences, nobody can blame Erwiana for her discomfort in being under the care of the ICG, the MFMW said. “Can anyone fault her for her unease in staying in the ICG and being under the watch of Indonesian government officials?”
“We in the MFMW commend Erwiana for standing her ground against moves that are counter to the choices she made. We admire her determination to win the justice that she set herself to get,” it said.
As the organization Erwiana authorized to assist in her case, the MFMW pledges to always put to heart Erwiana’s interest. “Like the effort and attention we gave to ensure that her choice on accommodation and her freedom of movement are upheld, we shall work hard to ensure that her rights are always respected as the judicial process in Hong Kong unrolls,” MFMW said.
“Finally, the MFMW iterates our willingness to work with any group or office that, in words and deeds, are for the achievement of justice for Erwiana and all migrant domestic workers.”
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