Didi Wahyudi, Indonesian Consul, talks to Saudi Gazette in Jeddah, Tuesday. (SG photo by Mohammad Mazhar Siddiqi)JEDDAH: The Indonesian government has no plans to move the International Society of Human Rights (ISHR) against the alleged torture of domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia, a senior consulate official said here Tuesday. Reacting to reports in a section of the press, Didi Wahyudi, Indonesian Consul, said vested interests are spreading adverse reports to tarnish the image of Indonesia and harm the excellent bilateral relations with the Kingdom. “Thanks to God, we have strong relations with our brothers in Saudi Arabia which is the heart of Islam and the Muslim World,” Wahyudi told Saudi Gazette in an exclusive interview. The official also denied reports that Indonesia is banning or stopping its workers to come to the Kingdom. “During the last two months, the demand for Indonesian housemaids and drivers has increased while the supply has declined considerably. The number of visas issued per month is now 200 as against 20,000 earlier, he said. On the issue of illegal Indonesians camping outside the consulate here waiting to be deported, the official said the consulate was waiting for exit permits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Passports Department. “They will be deported as and when we receive the papers,” he said. Wahyudi said that if a worker visits the consulate and has passport with tickets, the consulate immediately starts the paper work to send him back to Indonesia. However, if there is a case of a runaway worker, the consulate is helpless as the passport of the concerned individual is with the sponsor, he said. “Under such circumstances, the guest country will handle the situation either by fixing the problem between the workers and their sponsors or by deporting the workers to their country,” he said. If the consulate, he said, discovers that a worker is wanted by Saudi authorities for a crime, it immediately transfers his documents to the concerned authorities for action. “We always advise our nationals to respect the Saudi law and traditions as well,” he added. He added that Sumiati Binti Salan Mustapa, the Indonesian housemaid who was allegedly tortured in Madina, is still convalescing in the hospital. “King Abdullah has already ordered her treatment in government hospitals either in Jeddah or Riyadh. Now, she is living in Jeddah under the responsibility and protection of the Indonesian consulate here,” he added. Wahyudi said another housemaid was tortured for three months in Madina. Hot water was also poured over her, he said. “According to the medical report, the housemaid was mentally and psychologically fine and there was no single reason behind the torture. The doctors had taken some skin from her thigh in order to cover the injuries over her head,” he said. Around 70% of the 1.2 million Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia are employed as domestic helpers.
