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)