Kupang -Four coffins containing the bodies of migrant workers arrived at Kupang’s El Tari Airport Cargo Terminal on Saturday afternoon, June 24, 2023. The migrant workers from Nusa Tenggara Timur died in Malaysia, the country where they worked.
The identities of the four migrant workes are:
- Teodorus Tuke, 23 years old, from Rubit village, Hewokloang Subdistrict, Sikka Regency.
- Mardiana Ngongo, 34 years old, from Badu Hulla village, Lamboya Sub-district, West Sumba Regency.
- Gregorius Halla, 55 years old, from Angkaes Village, Weliman Sub-district, Malaka Regency.
- Yosep Lalus, from Oetulu Village, Musi Sub-district, North Central Timor District.
Teodorus, Mardiana and Gregorius coffins were flown by Garuda number GA 448 to El Tari Airport. While Yosep’s coffin was flown by Lion number JT 924.
Indonesian Migrant Workers Service and Protection Center in Province NTT (BP3MI NTT) report said, 67 migrant workers died in the last six months, including four of these migrant workers. Their names didn’t registrated in BP3IM NTT (non-procuderal).
Head of BP3MI NTT, Siwa said their relatives took the coffins to their villages. Four ambulances brought the coffins and relatives to their homeland.
“Except for Mardiana’s coffin, the family is waiting at the port in Waingapu, Sumba,” Siwa said at El Tari Airport Cargo Terminal, Kupang.
Laurensia, Chatolic nun, known as “Suster Kargo”, said that Teodorus’ coffin was temporarily laid to rest at the Divine Providence convent. Then the coffin taken by ship to his home in Sikka Regency, Flores Island.
The other two coffins were taken by relatives in two ambulances to Malaka Regency and Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, both regencies are on Timor Island.
Indonesia Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Indonesia Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia report said, the cause of death of the four migrant workers were chronic illness.
The Indonesia Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu stated that Yosep Lalus suffered by septic shock with multiorgan failure secondary to meliodosis bacteremia.
Based on the death certificate of the Indonesia Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Teodorus Tuke, 23 years old, died on June 20, 2023 due to complications of the waist fruit.
The Indonesia Embassy in Kuala Lumpur also stated that Mardiana died due to right middle cerebral artery stroke. Gregory’s cause of death was cited as coronary artery disease.
Before the coffins of four migrant workers were taken to the their homeland, Laurensia accompanied by Emi Sahertian, the Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT) priest recited a prayer. Afterwards, the four ambulances left Kupang El Tari Airport Cargo Terminal with sound of sirens breaking the quietness of Kupang City on the weekend. (Ruth/Rita)
