Speaking at a webinar titled “Claiming for State Protection in Enforced Disappearance Case of Indonesian Citizen in Malaysia” today, Ram Ram Elisabeth Sitepu said the entire family was confident Ruth was still alive, four years into her disappearance.

Ram Ram said she was convinced that Ruth had been abducted, otherwise her sister would have informed the family on her plan to move elsewhere.

“We just want this case to be solved as soon as possible and for Ruth’s whereabouts to be identified immediately, for her to be found and to return to our family,” she said amid tears.

“We ask the Malaysian government and Jokowi’s (Indonesian president Joko Widodo) government to please facilitate this case and help us find our sister. We miss her and just want to see her again.”

Lawyer Philip Koh, who represents Ruth’s family in the ongoing inquiries by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), said Ram Ram’s cries painted a clear picture that the disappearance of a beloved family member could happen to anyone.

Despite Ram Ram’s pleas, Koh said it was “a shameful thing” that the Malaysian and Indonesian governments had yet to ratify the UN International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED).

“I think all civilised nations must make a commitment (to the Convention), regardless of the outcome of the search for the couple. We hope that some ‘good light’ will show up on the darkness of evil people doing evil things,” he said.

Rama Ramanathan, spokesman for the Citizen Action Group on Enforced Disappearance (CAGED), noted the lack of response from the police, although Putrajaya had set up a task force in 2019 to look into Suhakam’s findings.

He recommended that the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur apply to be an observer in the ongoing inquiry and to lodge a police report so they may obtain monthly updates on Ruth’s case.

Ruth and Joshua, a Malay-Muslim who converted to Christianity, have been missing for over four years. They were last seen on Nov 30, 2016.