Muara Teweh, NU Online
General chairman of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) KH Said Aqil Siradj urged the government to stop sending Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia, as a consequence of the execution by beheading of an Indonesian maid there recently.

"A stand taken by NU to call on the govermnet to stop the sending of Indonesian workers is a best and strategic solution," Aqil said here on Monday, adding that all this was such a must for the government in order not to be underestimated by the Muslim country.

Aqil said that since 1985 he had told the government represented by  Manpower Minister Soedomo and the Indonesia's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Akhmad Tjipto Soediro.

Meanwhile, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced recently that his country will suspend the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia until the kingdom guarantees the protection of Indonesian workers there.
 
The ban to take effect August 1 was in protest to the beheading Saturday of an Indonesian maid sentenced to death for killing her employer’s wife.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa also accused Riyadh of not notifying Jakarta of the scheduled execution of Ruyati binti Satubi after the maid reportedly confessed to murdering her female employer.

Jakarta is demanding that Riyadh agree through a memorandum of understanding to protect Indonesian workers in the kingdom from abuse by Saudi employers. Until such memorandum is signed, the ban will stay.

Nearly one million Indonesians work in Saudi Arabia, mostly as housemaids. (min)