VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires has facilitated the return of the body of an Indonesian seaman, Zais, who died on board while sailing in the South Atlantic waters.

The seaman's body was returned from Montevideo, Uruguay, on Feb 27 and is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on March 2, the Indonesian Embassy in Buenos Aires noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

Zais' body will then be handed over by the workers of placement agency PT Bahari Kru Manajemen to his family in Ambon, Maluku.

"Zais suffered from acute pulmonary edema that has sparked a problem in his heart," the embassy's head for Consular Affairs Emil Dewantara stated.

Zais died on Jan 16 after his health worsened. The Chinese-flagged "Ouya 17" ship, where Zais worked, brought him to Montevideo.

Indonesia's Honorary Consulate in Montevideo Nicholas Potrie and several sailors witnessed the process of transfer Zais' body from the ship to an ambulance before it was identified and returned to his home country.

The Indonesian Embassy has also worked on coordination with the authority in Uruguay to return Zais' body to Indonesia and rejected the workers agency's plan to cremate the body.

"The Indonesian Embassy will ensure that Indonesian citizens' rights are protected and will provide consular help, including to return the seaman's body," Indonesian Ambassador to the Argentine Republic, Republic of Paraguay, and Oriental Republic of Uruguay Niniek Kun Naryatie stated. (ant)