Abdurrahman ready for economic forum<\/p>\n
GENEVA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid arrived here on
\nSunday for the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he is
\nexpected to deliver speeches on Monday.<\/p>\n
During the annual forum, Abdurrahman will brief attending
\nbusinessmen on Indonesia's readiness to anticipate global
\nchanges. To participants of the congress, he will talk about a
\nstrategy to fight the threat of globalization.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, who arrived after a three-day visit in Saudi
\nArabia, will spend the night in Bern before flying to Davos on a
\nchartered helicopter.<\/p>\n
The President is also scheduled to hold a separate meeting
\nwith American businessman George Soros and the director general
\nof the International Labor Organization, Juan Somavia. Chairman
\nof the Indonesian Prosperous Trade Union (SBSI) Muchtar Pakpahan
\nwill accompany Abdurrahman during a meeting with Somavia.<\/p>\n
In his media briefing before leaving Riyadh, Abdurrahman said
\nhe urged King Fahd to step up Saudi Arabia's assistance to
\nMuslims around the globe.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman asserted he did not ask the king for loans and
\nassistance, but instead asked him to encourage more investment in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Despite the controversy of Indonesian housemaids working in
\nthe Middle East, Abdurrahman told the king that the Indonesian
\ngovernment would not stop the export of workers to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
The two leaders agreed that manpower ministers of the two
\ncountries would work together to ensure the safety and prosperity
\nof migrant Indonesian workers.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman acknowledged that many female workers faced
\nmistreatment from their employers. However, he added he should be
\nrealistic that the country was facing a huge unemployment
\nproblem.<\/p>\n
\"It's not wise to blow up the mistakes of some Arabian
\nemployers. Do not hurt the feelings of the Saudi Arabians,\"
\nAbdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, First Lady Sinta Nuriyah met with about 40
\nhousemaids who left their employers' homes because of domestic
\nviolence. The women displayed their injuries to Sinta and told
\nhow they were tortured and fled without receiving their salary.<\/p>\n
Nuriyah, a former women's rights activist, tried to comfort
\nthem and donated US$5000 to the Indonesian Embassy to help them.<\/p>\n
\"Let's go home and build our country,\" she told the
\nhousemaids.<\/p>\n
One victim was only 12 years old, but according to her
\npassport she was 20. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abdurrahman-ready-for-economic-forum-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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