Coordinating Minister Yusril: Government Pays Attention To Indonesian Citizens Sentenced Abroad

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the Government is committed to paying attention to the fate of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who are punished abroad, especially in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

According to him, this concern must be carried out after the Government has completed the transfer of foreign prisoners to their home countries, such as Australia and the Philippines in December 2024. Legislation regulations related to the transfer and exchange of prisoners are being pursued.

"And after that, we will also pay more attention to our citizens who are abroad. Our two main targets are actually Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, which are quite a number of Indonesian citizens who have been sentenced to death there, but to this day they have not been executed," said Yusril as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, January 24.

He said the state would protect every citizen abroad, regardless of the crimes committed or the ideology held. Later, the transfer of Indonesian citizens who are caught in legal cases outside the territory of Indonesia will be discussed first with the family.

We have to understand that this is the attitude of the Government. The government cannot hate or be happy with people. He (the government) must do something of the same treatment: protection of citizens. Whatever the fault, whatever the ideology, we must do something like that," said Yusril.

It is known that the Indonesian government transferred five inmates of the Bali Nine case to their home country, Australia, last December. In the same month, Indonesia also repatriated Mary Jane, a Filipino citizen who was sentenced to death in Indonesia for a heroin smuggling case.

In addition, the governments of Indonesia and France have signed a practical arrangement for the transfer of the death row convict Serge Areski Atlaui. Serge's transfer to his hometown is planned for February 4.

On the other hand, the Government has discussed repatriating terrorists who are strongly suspected of being involved in the 2002 Bali Bombing and former militant figure Jamaah Islamiyah, Encer Nurjaman alias Hambali, from the United States military prison in Cuba. However, the government is still reviewing this.