http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=61865&d=10&m=4&y=2005
Sunday, 10, April, 2005 (01, Rabi` al-Awwal, 1426)
Another Maid Fights to Stay Alive After Rape, Torture
M. Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Arab News
RIYADH, 10 April 2005 - Another Indonesian guest worker is
battling to stay alive after being subjected to sadistic tortures and rape by
her sponsor.
Twenty-five-year-old Suniati Binti Nibaran Sujari is in
intensive care with burns to more than half of her body and brutal injuries to
her genitals as her life hangs in the balance.
The woman, who worked as maid, was rushed to the intensive
care unit of the Riyadh Medical Complex (Shumaysi Hospital) on Thursday
morning. Her employer has been detained and is being questioned by police about
allegations of sexual harassment and physical torture.
This is the second case of inhuman torture of an Indonesian
maid that has surfaced within the last three weeks. Nasser Al-Dandani, the
Saudi lawyer who represents the Indonesian Embassy in this case, confirmed the
reports of the torture of Suniati but refused to divulge details of the case.
"I don't want to influence the investigation currently being
carried out in this equally tragic case after the much-publicized case of Nour
Miyati, who is currently recovering in the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in
Riyadh."
However, Arif Suyoko, a spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy,
gave details of the case.
"Suniati has suffered extensive burn injuries on her face,
her hands, legs and all across her abdomen and genitals. She could only nod her
head and blink her eyes when the name of her employer as culprit was mentioned
to her in the hospital," said Suyoko, referring to her deteriorating condition
at the ICU. She is unable to swallow solid foods because of severe burns on her
chest.
Hospital officials did not pick up the phones despite several
calls made by Arab News yesterday. But, a source at the hospital, on condition
of anonymity, said Suniati is in a critical condition. The source, however,
refused to comment on her chances for survival.
"Suniati probably has been raped besides being tortured by
her sponsor and his family members," Suyoko said. "On different parts of her
body, there are deep burn injuries and scars, while the skin has been badly
damaged."
He said the embassy appreciated the cooperation extended by
Saudi officials in the two cases. It was not immediately known how long Suniati
worked for the family. She hails from West Java in Indonesia. Embassy officials
also expressed concern that cases of sadistic torture and brutal beatings of
housemaids appear to be increasing.
"There is a need to streamline the whole process of maid
deployment," said another diplomat, adding that Jakarta's ban on deployment of
maids in Saudi Arabia continues. "A joint meeting of senior Indonesian
officials from the Ministries of Labor, Law, certain human rights organizations
and ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait and Jordan is likely to
be convened in Jakarta this month to make an assessment of the situation and
review the ban on maids."
Saudi Arabia currently is home to more than 600,000
Indonesian women workers - mainly maids. The Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh has
been receiving nearly 10 complaints every day from maids, while the Indonesian
Consulate in Jeddah has been handling some five to seven complaints a day.
Several Indonesian maids committed suicide during the last 18
months. More than 5,000 maids are currently stranded in Riyadh alone awaiting
deportation.
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