JAKARTA: About 500 angry Indonesians staged a motorbike protest outside the Malaysian ambassador's residence in Jakarta on Wednesday to condemn the abuse of Indonesian maids by Malaysian employers.
Incensed by the latest case of rape and torture of an Indonesian domestic worker in Malaysia, protesters besieged Ambassador Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin's house and demanded he leave Indonesia within two days.
They also threatened to roam through a nearby shopping mall and order any Malaysian they find to go back to their country.
"We want the Malaysian ambassador to leave Indonesia in two days. If he doesn't, we'll remove all the things in his house," said Mustar Bonaventura, of nationalist youth group Bendera, which organised the rally.
"Malaysia has really gone too far. Again they're torturing and raping our domestic workers. We've lost our patience. They've degraded Indonesia and its citizens."
Protesters shouted "Malaysians are insolent," sang the Indonesian anthem and carried banners with messages like "Crush Malaysia".
Organisers said they would move to the Malaysian embassy later Wednesday to continue their demonstration, and target Malaysian shoppers.
"We'll tell the Malaysian shoppers in Senayan City mall to stop shopping in Indonesia and get out. But we'll tell them nicely because we're not like those Malaysians who are torturers and rapists," Bonaventura said.
Spats regularly erupt between Indonesia and Malaysia over an array of issues, particularly Malaysia's treatment of the some two million Indonesians who work there.
Malaysia earlier Wednesday condemned the abuse of Indonesian maids after a 26-year-old woman was raped and scalded with an iron by her employers. The couple accused of abusing the woman have been arrested.
In June last year Indonesia barred domestic workers going to Malaysia after a series of incidents of shocking mistreatment, but the move has had little practical effect.
Malaysia and Indonesia have been working to establish official working conditions for maids, but negotiations are making slow progress due to disagreement over a proposed minimum wage.
-AFP
Incensed by the latest case of rape and torture of an Indonesian domestic worker in Malaysia, protesters besieged Ambassador Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin's house and demanded he leave Indonesia within two days.
They also threatened to roam through a nearby shopping mall and order any Malaysian they find to go back to their country.
"We want the Malaysian ambassador to leave Indonesia in two days. If he doesn't, we'll remove all the things in his house," said Mustar Bonaventura, of nationalist youth group Bendera, which organised the rally.
"Malaysia has really gone too far. Again they're torturing and raping our domestic workers. We've lost our patience. They've degraded Indonesia and its citizens."
Protesters shouted "Malaysians are insolent," sang the Indonesian anthem and carried banners with messages like "Crush Malaysia".
Organisers said they would move to the Malaysian embassy later Wednesday to continue their demonstration, and target Malaysian shoppers.
"We'll tell the Malaysian shoppers in Senayan City mall to stop shopping in Indonesia and get out. But we'll tell them nicely because we're not like those Malaysians who are torturers and rapists," Bonaventura said.
Spats regularly erupt between Indonesia and Malaysia over an array of issues, particularly Malaysia's treatment of the some two million Indonesians who work there.
Malaysia earlier Wednesday condemned the abuse of Indonesian maids after a 26-year-old woman was raped and scalded with an iron by her employers. The couple accused of abusing the woman have been arrested.
In June last year Indonesia barred domestic workers going to Malaysia after a series of incidents of shocking mistreatment, but the move has had little practical effect.
Malaysia and Indonesia have been working to establish official working conditions for maids, but negotiations are making slow progress due to disagreement over a proposed minimum wage.
-AFP
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