Another worker faces execution in Saudi Arabia

Another worker faces execution in Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA (JP): In the wake of furor over the recent execution
of Indonesian worker Soleha Anam Kadiran in Saudi Arabia, a
women's group claimed yesterday that another worker was about to
face the same fate.

The Indonesian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, however, said it had
not received any report about the planned execution in Riyadh.

Acting labor attache Hadi Sasmito told The Jakarta Post by
telephone yesterday that his office would check the report that
Nasimah Kasmidi had been sentenced to death by a Saudi court.

A non-governmental women's organization, Solidaritas
Perempuan, said yesterday that Nasimah would be executed for
unclear reasons. There were not any details, including when the
execution was to take place.

"What we know is that she will be executed, and we have sent
letters to the embassy there and to the Ministry of Manpower to
ask for their attention," said activist Salmah Safitri.

An Indonesian maid, Soleha Anam Kadiran, 30, was beheaded by
sword in the western region of Mecca on Sept. 30 after she was
convicted of killing her Saudi employer with an ax in 1994.

Human rights activists have criticized the government for
failing to protect an Indonesian citizen who was prosecuted and
eventually punished abroad.

State Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi called on the
Saudi government last week to reduce punishment given to
Indonesian workers should they break the law, since they
outnumber other expatriates who work there.

"The execution of an Indonesian woman should cause deep
concern because 92 percent of our workers abroad are women," she
said.

Salmah said Nasimah was sent to Saudi Arabia by Indonesian
labor supply agency PT Avida Avia Duta. However, her allegation
was flatly denied by the company.

"We have checked our files from 1992 and we cannot find the
name. We did not recruit her," said a company executive who asked
not to be identified.

Salmah pointed out that it was common for labor supply
agencies to fake names and other identities in workers'
passports.

"We have handled 155 maid maltreatment cases, and we found
that 95 percent of them had their identities forged by the
companies," Salmah noted.

Salmah expected that the government would do everything in its
power to save Nasimah.

"The government cannot just wash its hands when its citizens
are prosecuted abroad," she remarked. (prb)