Our women in Saudi Arabia
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.