JAKARTA. Member of the House of Representatives Commission IX on labor Rieke Diah Pitaloka of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) called on the government to take steps to protect Indonesian migrant workers who were detained by the Saudi police following a riot in Jeddah last week.

Rieke also called on the government to give details on exactly how many Indonesian workers locked up.

"I have information that there have been 30 arrests. But the Foreign Ministry said that 89 migrant workers have been detained," said Rieke.

Rieke also wants the government to provide legal assistance for the detained workers.

Thousands of Indonesians arrived at the Jeddah consulate over the weekend to apply for the travel documents in lieu of passports (SPLP) required to exit the country.

The long wait frustrated the stranded workers who then ran amok. Consulate officials were powerless against the stampede that descended into rioting on Sunday. (The Jakarta Post)

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