Gus Dur named migrant workers’ president

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 02/09/2010 11:53 AM

Migrant Care will posthumously award former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid the President of Migrant Workers title in a ceremony to be held at the Ismail Marzuki cultural center in Central Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

Anis Hidayah, executive director of the nongovernmental organization, said Gus Dur was deemed a pioneer of diplomatic efforts to help protect Indonesian migrant workers employed in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other countries. Thanks to Gus Dur’s initiative, Indonesian migrant worker Zaenab escaped capital punishment in Saudi Arabia.

“Despite his removal from office, Gus Dur remained consistent in advocating the rights of migrant workers,” Anis told tempointeraktif.com.

Migrant Care will present the award to commemorate the 40th day of Gus Dur’s demise.