http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=100381&d=24&m=8&y=2007
Friday, 24, August, 2007 (10, Sha`ban, 1428)
Indonesians Protest Outside Saudi Embassy in Jakarta
Rasheed Abou-Alsamh, Arab News
JEDDAH, 24 August 2007 - Relatives of the four Indonesian maids who were
allegedly severely beaten by their Saudi employers in Aflaj more than two weeks
ago protested yesterday outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta,
Indonesia, along with workers' rights activists, demanding that the remains of
the two maids who died of their injuries and the two survivors be sent home
immediately.
"We started this protest this morning with 100 participants, including
all of the relatives of the four maids, outside the Saudi Embassy here," said
Wahyu Susilo of Migrant Care in an interview from Jakarta.
"We have erected a tent outside the embassy and we will go on a hunger
strike until the Saudi authorities send the women home."
The protest was mostly calm except for a few scuffles with Indonesian
police who kept a watchful eye on the protesters from nearby. It was the second
protest in front of the Saudi Embassy in as many weeks. On Aug. 13 the same
group of labor activists held a protest and handed over a protest letter to
embassy officials from relatives of the victims.
Siti Tarwiyah Slamet, 32, and Susmiyati Abdul Fulan, 28, both died of
their injuries on Aug. 3 in Alflaj, a town 320 kilometers south of the Saudi
capital Riyadh. Tari Tarsim, 27, and Ruminih Surtim, 25, both survived two days
of alleged beatings by several men from the Saudi family that they all worked
for after being accused of practicing black magic on the son of their
employers. Both were left severely injured and were transferred to Riyadh
Medical Complex for further treatment from a hospital in Alfaj. Saudi police
have since arrested seven male suspects for interrogation and took Tari away
from the hospital for questioning on Aug. 20.
Susmiyati's brother Supomo told the Jakarta Post that he wanted his
sister's body repatriated as soon as possible and that all those responsible
for killing his sister should be severely punished.
The Saudi authorities have still not released the bodies of the two
deceased maids to the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, and have also not allowed
the embassy official access to the two remaining survivors.
"We want them to be under our custody, but our request has not been acted
upon," an Indonesian diplomat told Arab News in an interview this week. "We
also still haven't had access to the bodies of the two deceased domestic
workers."
The relatives of the victims and activists have vowed to continue their
protests outside the Saudi Embassy until all four victims return home.
"The Saudi government must investigate thoroughly and the employer and
his relatives involved in the incident brought to justice," said Wahyu
