Issue: ‘SBY criticizes abuse of maid in Arabia’

Nov. 17, Online

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants justice for a domestic worker who was allegedly tortured by her employers in Saudi Arabia.
The 23-year-old maid, Sumiati binti Salam Mustafa, has been hospitalized in Medina since Nov. 8 with burns all over her body, a fractured middle finger and cuts around her lips, reportedly made by scissors.
Yudhoyono said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday in Jakarta that the “extraordinary torture” needs to be investigated.
“I want the law to be upheld and to see an all-out diplomatic effort.”
More than 80,000 Indonesian domestic workers flock to Saudi Arabia every year. Rights groups say they, and other migrant workers, at times face slavery-like conditions and sexual abuse.

Your comments:

Their courts will never prosecute the perpetrators. The most they would do is pay compensation. Hundreds of Indonesian domestics learn the hard way about this inhuman behavior.
Our diplomatic staff in these countries are afraid to push the case as they would immediately be declared persona non grata.
They would be sent home packing before they accumulate enough savings to buy a house and a car back in Indonesia.
The Indonesian government could take an example from the Philippines.
The Philippines does not have any illusions that their nationals will be treated well, so they have officers at their embassies that monitor their nationals employed in Arab lands and stridently protest and take perpetrators to court.
Philippines consular staff are respected in these countries, not like Indonesian diplomatic staff.
Talk is cheap, Mr. President! Actions speak louder than words. But then again, I understand Muslims are loath to criticize other Muslims, especially the Saudis!
Paul E. Rantau
Singapore

It’s only words, but words can be very revealing. Consider the difference between these two sentences.
“I want to see an all-out diplomatic effort,” or “I will make sure there is an all-out diplomatic effort.”
The second sentence is more powerful and would give the
people much more confidence in their leader.
James A.
Tangerang, Banten

Saudi Arabia, I understand, is investing millions of dollars in an attempt to make Indonesia operate under the same cultural system that they have.
This type of cruelty is what Indonesia can expect if the Saudi influence is not forcefully rejected.
Sheldon
Probolinggo

SBY, please quit grandstanding. Far too often you use phrases like “I have instructed ...” as though
law enforcement agencies are not doing anything unless they are instructed by you.
You have done this far too much, so that your instructions are just like a passing breeze.
What about your orders to bring to justice members of a radical group who knifed a Christian minister?
You cannot even protect the citizens in your own country and now you want to extend the big nothing to another country. You truly are laughable.
Sad, I used to pin so much hope on you.
Chris C.
The US

Dear President SBY,
If you talked to any of the maids working in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries you would ban all contact with that country and consider retribution.
I have spent quite some time travelling through the Middle East and at airports you often see huddled groups of maids.
They talk quietly to each other exchanging horror stories.
 Greeti
Tuban, East Java