Our women in Saudi Arabia

Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi will soon leave for Saudi Arabia on a high-powered mission to investigate reports about hundreds of Indonesian women being involved in a low- profile flesh trade in the Holy Land.

Some people might find the report shocking as the Saudi ambassador here has denied it as groundless. But for long-term Indonesian residents of Saudia Arabia or those who have visited the Middle Eastern kingdom since early this decade, the news no longer surprises them.

Visitors to Saudi Arabia have confirmed the reports are true, saying they have often been offered a visit to bordellos run by Indonesians. Some, who have accepted the invitation over curiosity, were informed that brothel operators cater chiefly to Indonesians who live in the area while their families are thousands of kilometers away.

A former official of the Indonesian consulate general in Jiddah, who spoke anonymously, also confirmed the existence of a flesh trade. He said the consulate general had no authority to close the bordellos or send the women home. All they could do was report the case to the local authorities who later conducted immigration raids on the premises and sent home every Indonesian who overstayed their visas. But many of the women managed to return.

Minister Mien's disclosure about this heinous profession involving Indonesian women, based on a report from the Indonesian consulate general in Jiddah, might have sounded like thunder in broad daylight to many people here. The disturbing nature of the statement was not because it was made during the Moslem holy month of Ramadhan last Thursday or that she had discussed it with President Soeharto, but it implied an unheard-of contradiction.

How could this illegal operation be going on in a land where the most sacred Islamic shrines are located and involving members of the Indonesian nation who are widely known for their religiosity?

Based on testimonies from the consulate general, the many visitors to the Holy Land and long-term Indonesian residents, we tend to believe that the illicit business has been under operation for many years. Its existence naturally tarnishes the image not only of Indonesia but also Saudi Arabia, and is against religion which plainly condemns prostitution.

It is not easy to end the flesh trade in a foreign country as long as there are Indonesian women who can manipulate or were made to manipulate their visas. Saudi authorities should send the women home and stop other female workers from becoming involved in prostitution. The Indonesian government should work together with Saudi Arabia to nab those responsible for exploiting the women and send them to Indonesia to stand trial.

The government has always believed that unskilled workers abroad can help improve their social and economic life back home but it has not answered the question: "At what price?" Authorities have known for a long time that many Indonesian female workers have been mistreated in the Middle East. But the government has never stopped sending workers abroad purely for economic reasons.

With the latest disgrace, it is high time the government said enough is enough. Poor African countries only send male workers abroad because they believe using housemaids as an "export item" is the worst form of national self-humiliation.

We believe we still have such national dignity.