TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The tragic death of two Indonesian migrant workers (TKI)—Sumarti Ningsih and Jesse Lorena Ruri, also known as Seneng Mujiasih—has driven around 200 TKIs to hold a vigil at Victoria Park in Hong Kong, in memory of the two women who were murdered by Rurik Jutting last week.
"I hope that the killer gets severely punished so he will suffer the way my cousin did. I still can't believe that one of the victims is my own cousin," said Jumiati, a woman at the vigil who claims to be Ningsih's cousin, as quoted by the New Straits Times on Sunday, November 9, 2014.
A number of TKIs wore t-shirts bearing the images of Ningsih and Jesse to show their support for the victims. Some vigil participants held brandished signs saying "Justice for Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih".
A human rights observer group said that migrant workers faced serious challenges when they arrive to work in Southern China, where there were plenty of legal loopholes within the Criminal Code.
The group also said strict law enforcement was also absent, leaving female migrant workers vulnerable to sexual abuses.
"We want to make sure that the rights of TKIs are respected. We call on the government to do more to protect our TKIs abroad," said a representative of the congregation at the vigil.
Previously last week, Ningsih and Jesse were found tragically murdered at the J Residence condo where Jutting lives. The Briton has since been placed under police custody and his case is being heard at the court.
RINDU P. HESTYA | NEW STRAIT TIMES