Body of Indonesian maid found in Saudi dumptser

[Zhou Tai]

Published: Friday November 19, 2010 MYT 4:46:00 PM

Body of Indonesian maid found in Saudi dumptser

JAKARTA: Indonesia demanded an investigation Friday into reports that a domestic worker was allegedly killed by her employer in Saudi Arabia and thrown into dumpster - the second case of maid abuse to emerge this week. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting called to discuss the need to protect hundreds of thousands of migrants who flock to the Middle East in search of work.

Too many, human rights groups say, face slave-like conditions, torture, sexual abuse and even death. Indonesian Minister of Labor Muhaimin Iskandar said an embassy team was dispatched to the Saudi town of Abha to look into allegations the 36-year-old maid, Kikim Komalasari, had been killed by her bosses. Her neck was slashed and she had severe cuts to the rest of her body, he said.

"It's shocking to hear this ... it's beyond inhumane," Yudhoyono said, adding, however, he was encouraged so far by the Saudi government's quick response. "I'm hopeful the perpetrators will be punished according to law." The report came as a team of Indonesian officials headed to the Mideast to seek justice and medical help for another maid, Sumiati binti Salan Mustapa, who has been hospitalised in the Saudi city of Medina since Nov. 8.

The 23-year-old's employers allegedly burned her, broke her middle finger and cut her lips with scissors. Earlier this week, New York-based group Human Rights Watch urged Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Kuwait to do more to protect domestic workers in their countries, saying a string of allegations point to a "broader pattern of abuse."

They were responding to reports that a Sri Lankan maid working in Jordan had been forced to swallow nails. Another maid employed in Kuwait claimed her employer drove nails into her body. "The wanton brutality alleged in these cases is shocking," said Nisha Varia, senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, which called on authorities to investigate claims promptly and bring those responsible to justice. - AP

 

[Zhou Tai]

Stop sending Indonesian maids to Saudi Arabia: House Speaker


Published: Saturday November 20, 2010 MYT 3:22:00 PM

Stop sending Indonesian maids to Saudi Arabia: House Speaker

JAKARTA: A speaker of Indonesian House of Representatives Marzuki Alie suggested a halt to sending Indonesian domestic workers to Saudi Arabia if the authorities there failed to tackle the recent case of torture of an Indonesian domestic worker Sumiati Salan Mustapa.

Quoting Marzuki, China's Xinhua news agency reported that the torture had humiliated every Indonesian and if the Saudi authority failed to show their goodwill in tackling the case, it would be better for the government to temporarily halt the sending of domestic workers. Sumiati, 23, from Dompu, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara was brutally tortured in Saudi Arabia, and was hospitalised there for severe physical and psychological abuse.

He said the Indonesian government also must monitor the legal process and start a serious dialogue with the Saudi government to guarantee the safety of Indonesian workers. "We will assist the government in doing so. A team of inter- faction lawmakers would be formed to assure stronger protection for our workers in Saudi," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

 

[Zhou Tai]

Indonesian maid found in Saudi dumpster was killed by boss


Indonesian maid found in Saudi dumpster was killed by boss

The Jakarta Globe, AP
Published Nov 20 2010

In another tragic maid abuse case in Saudi Arabia, Indonesian domestic worker, Kikim Komalasari, 36, was killed by her boss and her body thrown into a dumpster. Her neck was slashed and she had severe cuts to the rest of her body, reports The Jakarta Globe.

"It's shocking to hear this... It's beyond inhumane,' said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Indonesia has demanded that the Saudi authorities investigate the death of Kikim who was allegedly killed by her employers and whose body was thrown into a dumpster - the second case of maid abuse involving Saudi employers this week.

Activists demonstrate outside the Saudi Arabia embassy in Jakarta​

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President Susilo spoke to reporters after attending a Cabinet meeting convened to discuss how the government can protect the thousands of Indonesians who head to the Middle East in search of work. Too many, human rights groups say, face slavery-like conditions, sexual abuse and even death.

An Indonesian lawmaker, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, expressed anger over the death of Kikim. She and activists from Migrant Care Indonesia held a protest outside the Saudi Embassy in Jakarta yesterday. A banner carried by one of the protesters read, 'Saudi Arabia: Cruelty to Humanity'.

Indonesia's Labour Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said an embassy team had been dispatched to the Saudi town of Abha to look into allegations that Kikim was killed by her employers. Earlier, another abused Indonesian maid, Sumiati Salan Mustapa has been hospitalized in the Saudi city of Medina since Nov 8. The 23-year-old’s employers allegedly burned her, broke her middle finger and cut her lips with scissors.