The perilous journey of Indonesian migrant workers attempting to return home from Malaysia continues to claim lives, with yet another tragedy unfolding in the waters of the Malacca Straits.
This time, 10 Indonesian migrant workers found themselves in a life-or-death situation as their boat capsized while attempting to cross the treacherous sea.
Only seven were rescued; the rest remain unaccounted for, including one confirmed fatality.
The tragic story of one victim, Anastasia Seo, highlights the ongoing plight of Indonesian migrant workers forced into dangerous circumstances by a lack of legal documentation, as well as the spiritual toll taken on priests and religious who works to reunite her body with her family.
Father Paulus “Polce” Halek, a priest from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), was alerted to the situation on August 3 by a Catholic family from Malaka District, Indonesia.
“The family asked me to check the report and find further details about potential fatalities,” the priest said. The family reported that a group of migrant workers had died when their boat capsized in the Malacca Straits.
Arriving at Pelindo Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra, Father Halek learned that an unidentified woman from NTT had died. The woman was later identified as Anastasia Seo from Webora in Malaka District. Father Halek helped arrange for her body to be sent back to her family, a tragic conclusion to her journey home.
“We have coordinated with the local authority in the capital city of Medan of North Sumatera Province that the dead body will be likely flown to NTT to reach the family,” he said.
The incident is a grim reminder of the dangers faced by migrant workers who seek better opportunities abroad but lack the necessary legal protections.
Father Halek questioned how long these tragedies would continue.
“Until when do my NTT fellow Indonesian migrant workers still brace this fatal tragedy?” he lamented, criticizing the Indonesian government’s slow response to addressing the legal and humanitarian needs of migrant workers.
His concerns are echoed by the grim statistics coming out of NTT Province. At the end of 2023, Kupang’s El Tari International Airport had received 151 coffins of repatriated Indonesian migrant workers.
This marked the highest number of fatalities since 2018, with a significant number of the deceased lacking legal travel documents.
The numbers are staggering. Since 2018, 657 coffins have been sent to NTT’s El Tari Airport alone. The repatriations highlight the vulnerability of Indonesia’s migrant workers, many of whom are trafficked across Southeast Asia.
An estimated 85 percent of human trafficking in ASEAN countries involves labor exploitation, with traffickers profiting from the desperation of workers seeking employment abroad.
The Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency reported that 2023 saw the highest fatality rate among Indonesian migrant workers, with many of the deaths occurring in Malaysia.
In the first two quarters of 2024, 68 more coffins were sent to NTT, all of which were migrant workers who had died in Malaysia. Only one had legal travel documents.
Among those working unremittingly to assist repatriated workers is Sr. Laurentina, a well-known activist at Kupang’s El Tari Airport. She has dedicated years of her life to helping families receive the bodies of their loved ones.
“I don’t know until when I could dedicate my life and pastoral religious assignment to take care of these humanity missions,” she told LiCAS News during a meeting in West Jakarta.
Sr. Laurentina’s work is emotionally and financially draining, yet she said she remains committed to her mission, despite the challenges.
Often, locating the families of the deceased is difficult due to the lack of personal documentation, adding another layer of complexity to the repatriation process.
Fr. Halek said the ongoing tragedies involving Indonesian migrant workers highlight a systemic issue that requires urgent attention.
With hundreds of workers losing their lives every year, the Indonesian government faces mounting pressure to protect its citizens abroad.
Until then, the tragic stories of people like Anastasia Seo will continue to unfold, leaving behind grieving families and a desperate cry for justice.
