REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- The Indonesian government, through its representatives in China, will investigate the January 23 death of migrant worker Eka Suryani in Fujian.

"We, especially the Indonesian representatives in Gunagzhou and Hong Kong, continue coordinating and cooperating with the local police regarding the case," Indonesian ambassador to China and Mongolia Soegeng Rahardjo said, when asked for confirmation by Antara about the case here on Wednesday.

Eka Suryani, 23, a mother hailing from RT22/RW08 Mulyosari hamlet, Mulyosari, Donomulyo, Malang, East Java, worked as a house maid in China.

On Monday, January 25, Eka was asked by her employer to join him in Fujian to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration there.

Eka's body was later found naked in the bathroom. It is suspected that she died after being electrocuted by a heater in the bathroom, according to officials.

However, her family has accepted an offer from the office of the security office of Fujian province to have an autopsy performed.

"The autopsy will certainly take time, moreover, as the Chinese are all preparing for the Chinese New Year celebration. If the autopsy is done, the process of repatriating the body will be immediately carried out. The death certificate has already been issued by the Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou, but it will take time for the autopsy to be completed," the ambassador said.

The Indonesian Migrant Workers Network (JBMI) earlier asked the government to conduct the autopsy, in view of the alleged abnormal death of Eka, which some suspect to have been caused by her employer.

In connection with the death, the Indonesian embassy spokesman in Beijing, Santo Darmosusanto, said he understands the wishes of Eka's family, but "for the autopsy to be done independently it must be carried out in Indonesia, and that means after all procedures in Fujian have been completed," he said.

The allegation emerged because Eka had earlier complained to her husband, Indra Teguh Wiyono, about her employer's treatment of her, as well as to JBMI colleagues in Hong Kong.

Further, during a 30 minute conversation Eka spoke about her suffering and said she planned, after returning from Fujian to Hong Kong on Sunday, January 24, to end her work contract. Eka added that she would not work in Hong Kong any longer due to a trauma.

Eka was sent to China six months ago by PT Surabaya Yudha Citra Perdana, an employment company based in Malang, East Java.

The arrival of Eka in Hong Kong was arranged by AIE Employment Center, the working partner of PT Surabaya Yudha Citra Perdana.

During her first two months in Hong Kong, Eka said she was treated well, but beginning in the third month she often received harsh treatment, including torture, she said. She often complained about the poor treatment she received from the wife of her employer.

She said she was given only two meals a day, as well as long working hours without a break. She had also been told to clean her employer's home and work before and upon returning from a holiday.

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