http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11795356
19 November 2010 Last updated at 14:19 GMT Indonesia maid 'killed in Saudi Arabia' Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa's injuries included cuts to her lips allegedly made with scissors Continue reading the main story Related stories a.. Indonesia condemns maid torture b.. Saudis may stop Sri Lanka workers c.. Saudi maid verdict 'outrageous' Indonesia has demanded an inquiry into reports that a maid working in Saudi Arabia was killed by her employers and her body dumped on a roadside. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said a team had been sent to the Saudi town of Abha to investigate reports of the murder of 36-year-old Kikim Komalasari. It comes as officials arrived in Saudi Arabia to follow up claims of torture against a second Indonesian maid. Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa is recovering in hospital in Medina. Her injuries include gashes to her face and cuts to her lips, allegedly inflicted by her employers using scissors. She was also burned with an iron and suffered internal injuries, officials say. Indonesia's president has demanded justice for the "extraordinary torture". Indonesian media reported on Thursday that the Saudi Arabian government had arrested the female employer of Sumiati, and apologised for the maid's treatment. 'Beyond inhumane' Reports of the murder of a second maid came on Friday. Continue reading the main story Analysis Emily Buchanan BBC world affairs correspondent -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Several countries across the Middle East and Asia host millions of migrant domestic workers, ranging from 196,000 in Singapore to approximately 1.5 million in Saudi Arabia. Whether or not they are well treated is a matter of luck rather than legislation. Employers have huge control over them and the workers have few rights. Most have their passports taken away. It is hard to document their treatment as they are "hidden" in people's homes, but abuse is systemic, according to Human Rights Watch. Traditionally, the Philippines has been a stronger advocate for its workers than the other "sender" countries, but the protest by the Indonesian president is unusually high-level - especially as it occurred during the Muslim Eid celebrations. There has been growing tension between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia over rising fees charged by private Indonesian recruiting agencies. Saudi Arabia was even considering banning Indonesian domestic workers. Indonesia's labour minister Muhaimin Iskandar said Ms Komalasari's neck had been slashed and she had severe cuts to the rest of her body. Indonesia's president described it as "beyond inhumane". Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene told the BBC that the Saudi envoy had denounced the crime and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. An Indonesian official said he had been told that Ms Komalasari's employers had been arrested. Earlier Indonesia's cabinet met to discuss the need for greater protection of the country's migrant workers in the Middle East. There are estimated to be about one million. Rights organisations say many foreign domestic maids in Saudi Arabia work in harsh circumstances and often suffer abuse from their employers. Mr Tene said Indonesia was pushing for a memorandum of understanding through diplomacy, but said he was aware that Saudi Arabia does not have such a deal with any other country. The Saudi Labour Ministry has in the past acknowledged some problems with the treatment of domestic staff, but the government also says foreign workers' rights are protected under Islamic law. More on This Story Related stories a.. Indonesia condemns maid torture 16 NOVEMBER 2010, ASIA-PACIFIC b.. Saudis may stop Sri Lanka workers 11 OCTOBER 2010, SOUTH ASIA c.. Saudi maid verdict 'outrageous' 22 MAY 2008, MIDDLE EAST d.. Perils of the migrant maids' daughters 06 DECEMBER 2005, SOUTH ASIA e.. Work is torture for Sri Lanka maids 24 NOVEMBER 2003, SOU [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
