Issue: Indonesia ‘feels cheated’ by S. Arabia

June 21, p. 1

The Saudi Arabian government did not fully inform Indonesia about the trial process of Ruyati binti Satubi, leading to Indonesia’s failure to save her from execution, the foreign minister says.

Meanwhile, calls mounted for Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take firm action against Saudi Arabia.

Speaking before members of the House of Representatives on Monday, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the Saudi government told the Indonesian government that there would be a continuation of trials against Ruyati in April and May this year — information he said the Indonesian government passed on to Ruyati’s family.

“But the execution was carried out on June 18, without letting the Indonesian government and missions know in advance,” said Marty.

Separately, Indonesia National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Overseas Labor (BNP2-TKI) head Jumhur Hidayat said Indonesia “felt cheated” by the Saudi government.

Your comments:

Let’s share the grievances of the misfortunes that happened to an Indonesian woman. We are not here to discuss who was right or wrong. The poor lady is not going to come back. Domestic helper abuse is quite common these days.

Different countries have their own laws. We have got to respect that. May God bless her soul.

Ramasamy Perumal
Malaysia

The problem is there is no legal agency of relevant ministries that can check the preparation of migrant workers going abroad.

I think all passports should be issued by the Foreign Ministry, so it can check the preparations, including health, training, education and age. And this should be used as the basis for reports to all Indonesian representatives.

At present, Indonesian embassies have no exact data on Indonesian workers. We do not know where they work.

We only find out if a case emerges that they should handle. So, all passports for Indonesian migrant workers must be issued by the Foreign Ministry.

Indrawin
Jakarta

Money is not everything and the Indonesian government should provide education and information to uplift these people so they don’t take on such jobs in these countries.

Most of the maids out there in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and other countries are abused and treated very badly.

They will not want to tell the sad stories when they get back home, but the beatings and abuse leave them in a very bad shape for the rest of their lives.

Mohammed Abbas
Bahrain

Most of these maids are simple rural girls. Some are not even 18 years old. The Indonesian government has to stop sending these poor girls to “strange” countries.

Every time I go to Jakarta airport, I always feel sorry seeing these poor country girls sitting on the floor before they’re sent to Arab countries. They really look miserable. I blame the Indonesian government.

Adade
Jakarta