MAID EXECUTION: INDONESIA SUSPENDS SENDING WORKERS TO SAUDI ARABIA

JAKARTA, June 23 (Bernama) -- Following Saudi Arabia's execution last
Saturday of an Indonesian maid convicted of murdering her Saudi employer, the
Indonesian Government Thursday announced a temporary suspension of Indonesian
workers to the country, beginning Aug 1.

The moratorium will be effective until the Saudi Arabian Government agrees
to sign an agreement to protect the rights of Indonesian workers in the oil-rich
kingdom.

Announcing the moratorium through a live television broadcast, President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also condemned Saudi Arabia's action in imposing the
sentence on the maid, identified only as Ruyati, without informing his
government.

He said the act violated international procedures.

"Beginning today, steps have been taken to tighten the despatch of
Indonesian workers (overseas). We are monitoring the Indonesian authorities in
charge of despatching labour.

"I also call on Indonesians to abide by the moratorium and not to go there
themselves," he said at the President's Office here.

Susilo has also instructed three of his cabinet ministers -- Foreign
Minister Dr Marty Natalegawa, Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar and
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar -- to explain to the
people the action taken by the government to help Ruyati and other Indonesians
who were awaiting death sentence abroad.

Besides the moratorium on Saudi Arabia, the president said Indonesia was
also evaluating the treatment and protection given to Indonesian workers in
other Middle East countries.

Susilo also announced the setting up of a special team to defend Indonesian
workers facing the death sentence abroad, and also the appointment of legal and
human rights attaches at Indonesian embassies where there were many Indonesian
workers.

-- BERNAMA