President Wahid: Slavery Widespread in Saudi Arabia (fwd)

["M.G.G. Pillai" <pillai@mgg.pc.my>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 03 Mar 2000 08:12:06
From: tapol@gn.apc.org
Reply-To: "Conference act.indonesia" <indonesia-act@igc.org>
To: Recipients of indonesia-act <indonesia-act@igc.org>
Subject: President Wahid: Slavery Widespread in Saudi Arabia

From: TAPOL <tapol@gn.apc.org>
Subject: President Wahid: Slavery Widespread in Saudi Arabia

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Indonesian Observer
March 2, 2000

Wahid urges talks on Indonesian women working in Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA (IO) — President Abdurrahman Wahid says Indonesia must hold talks 
with Saudi Arabia on the treatment of Indonesian women employed as maids in 
the oil-rich country.

"We must hold a discussion so that we can resolve the existing problems and 
both sides can understand each other. Indonesia no longer believes in 
slavery," he told members of the Mobile Brigade Police in Depok, West Java, 
yesterday.

He expressed concern that many Saudis may treat their Indonesian servants as 
slaves and sexually harass them.

Many Indonesian women who have worked abroad come home with horror stories of 
being raped and badly treated by their foreign bosses. 

But according to Wahid, the Indonesian media often makes inaccurate reports 
on what goes on in Saudi Arabia.

"The media’s descriptions created a public perception that our women workers 
were raped. The situation is not like that. The Saudi people still believe in 
the old Islamic teaching, which is belief in slavery. So a woman who works 
for them is considered a slave," he said.

For some men in Saudi Arabia, sexual relations with a housemaid are not 
considered as rape, because they believe that such a practice is permitted by 
their beliefs, he added.

Wahid also stressed the Saudi government does not believe in slavery, but the 
practice is still common in society.

Therefore, he agreed with a demand from a policewoman who appealed to the 
president to allow Indonesian policewomen to go to foreign countries to help 
any Indonesian females who encounter problems.

"I also hope that policewomen will be sent to protect Indonesia’s women 
workers. I will talk with the minister of religious affairs so that he can 
arrange this," said Wahid.

"I also hope that policewomen will be able to give insight to employers of 
Indonesian workers. Your role is very important in resolving these problems 
because you are well educated," he added.

Protection 

President Wahid said he has also ordered Manpower Minister Bomer Pasaribu to 
give adequate protection to Indonesians working abroad, especially those sent 
to Saudi Arabia.

"Other countries require recruitment agencies to make a deposit of US$5,000 
for every worker sent abroad. The money is needed if a problem should arise 
with the worker. I think we must take it as an example," he said.

"I have seen the huge number of Indonesian workers queuing up to seek help 
from the Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah [Saudi Arabia]. They became victims 
of an unfair system." 

Wahid said part of a US$5,000 deposit could be used to buy a plane ticket for 
a worker who encounters employment problems abroad. The rest of the money 
must go to the worker, he added.

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TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
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Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904   Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh

26 years - and still going strong 
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