Maid tortured in Jordan

15 November 2010 01:40 am - 33 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka is probing allegations that one of its nationals employed in Jordan was forced to swallow nails, in the third case involving alleged torture in three months.

A housemaid identified as D M Chandima has told the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in Amman that her employer forced her to swallow six nails, an official at the Foreign Employment Bureau of Sri Lanka said on Sunday.

"We are awaiting a full report from doctors," said the head of the bureau, Kingsley Ranawaka, adding that the authorities would decide on the next steps after looking at the medical evidence.

The report came as another Sri Lankan housemaid who had been working in Kuwait accused her employer of driving 14 wire nails into her body as punishment for failing in her work.

The woman, identified only as Lechchami, 38, underwent surgery to have the nails removed after returning home to Sri Lanka, the director of the hospital in the northwestern town of Kurunegala said on Saturday.

The doctor said the woman had told surgeons that her Kuwaiti employers drove the nails -- some as long as 3.5cm -- into her hands and left leg when she asked for her salary after working for six months.

Police said the case was under investigation.

In August, another housemaid complained her Saudi employer drove 24 nails into her arms, legs and forehead as punishment. Most of them were removed by surgeons in Sri Lanka.

The Saudi government and private sector officials in Riyadh have questioned the credibility of the woman's allegations.

About 1.8 million Sri Lankans are employed abroad, of whom 70 per cent are women. Most work as housemaids in the Middle East while smaller numbers work in Singapore and Hong Kong, seeking higher salaries than they would get at home.

Non-governmental organisations report frequent cases of employer abuse of maids who work abroad.

Source: AFP

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Comments - 33

Hasiya Monday, 15 November 2010 08:13 AM

Don't relate every incident against the govt!

Geriatrix Monday, 15 November 2010 06:09 AM

(1) How did she get past airport security with the nails in her body.

(2) How sure are we if the nails were not inserted after she arrived in SL?

(3) Why did she wait until 14 nails were inserted to come out with the story.

ajith Monday, 15 November 2010 06:13 AM

The history says that even a Srilankan politician had drived nails to a university student who later died!!!!

Curiosity Monday, 15 November 2010 06:19 AM

its about time the GOSL got tough to stop this abuse. The Foreign Employment Bureau is useless. the top man doesnt know anything as to what is happening and just only talks.
after all these women have made a big sacrifice by leaving their families behind to give them a better life.further more they are the ones who are responsible for brining in the highest foreign revenue to SL.
when the first incident happened there was a big hue and cry about it and then all goes silent.

Fair N Square Monday, 15 November 2010 06:32 AM

its NOT our airport but the ones they depart from, coz when u arrive here u dont go through a scanner.ONLY when u depart an airport do u go through a body scanner unlike bags n baggage

DHA Monday, 15 November 2010 07:20 AM

These cases are getting very very serious GOV please don't shape things off just for the sake of money....!!!

danushke Monday, 15 November 2010 07:49 AM

Its obvious you haveno brains.. pls dont insult these poor maids who are already going thru mental diassary

steve Monday, 15 November 2010 07:52 AM

What is this pattern of nails with our maids in Middle east?
stories popping up but beginning or end to it?

Sherlock Holmes Monday, 15 November 2010 08:06 AM

@geriatrix you better get an appointment with victim and let us know your findings

malik Monday, 15 November 2010 05:54 AM

srilanka has a very proud 2000 year history. our citizens should stop going to other countries for odd jobs ( cheap ) labour). we have a very good free education system. if you dont du the hard work at the right age and the right time any body will be compelled to head for cheap labour. the government should stop this maid mennace.

Hasiya Monday, 15 November 2010 08:14 AM

So, u tellin authorities to stop sending workers out of SL??

lish Monday, 15 November 2010 09:00 AM

They can start a Hardware stores...

Above the crowd Monday, 15 November 2010 09:01 AM

You,Ahameds and Mohammeds can defend the brutal Mid eastern Employers,there part human.

sham Monday, 15 November 2010 09:53 AM

we should see in every direction including government
because what is happening everywhere in Sri lanka....

xlntgson Monday, 15 November 2010 10:05 AM

Same old song! Will she agree for a hypnosis- self confession in a sub conscious state, as everybody is telling lies and supporting lies for national interests, (I'm now disinterested)?

m rifai nazim Monday, 15 November 2010 11:08 AM

Fair N Square. You are absolutely correct. There are no scanner installed in our "Arrival Counters".

Dee Monday, 15 November 2010 04:25 PM

Mid east. the 'Masters' in the Hard Ware trade. No wonder!

Mohamed Monday, 15 November 2010 03:24 AM

How come, after all these years of women working abroad has housemaids, only recently these inserting nails into the bodies are cropping up? Is it because of our SL Govt had some disagreements with the Middle East States recently?

Mariam Monday, 15 November 2010 05:36 AM

reading about housemaids and nails for the 3rd consecutive time should raise some suspicions whether these women are telling the truth that their employers are torturing them or they are looking for a quick buck or a getaway plan??? swallowing nails... wouldn't there be an instant effect??? like the nails getting caught or stuck somewhere in the digestive system??? cmon, we need to fully investigate on this...!!!

Dheen Monday, 15 November 2010 05:34 AM

If this is authentic one has to come to the conclusion that the knowledge and wisdom of those who live in these countries are veiled by money and they are just barbarians.

Kan Monday, 15 November 2010 05:31 AM

Now jobs are available locally, why unnecessary sent them abroad.Now in Sri Lanka housemaids are paid as much as 60-100 USD per month depending upon their experience and this is nett savings for them, as food and accommodation is provided by employer which is free to these housemaids.Main advantage is their family remains intact as they ar e allowed to visit their home town at least twice in a year.

Maidan Monday, 15 November 2010 05:13 AM

I agree with mohamed. How come only nowadays these things happening. I know since early 1980 house maids are
working there

Ranjan Monday, 15 November 2010 05:05 AM

Need proper investigation, some thing wrong in some ware

Kadira Monday, 15 November 2010 05:04 AM

Without bragging about the foreign exchange Sri Lanka earns from these poor ladies, it is time we stop sending people to these uncivilized countries in the middle east.

Nail bits Monday, 15 November 2010 04:58 AM

three cases within 3 months! is this a trend or is it the latest gimick?

how come not a single case of such was reported in the past 20 years where our sisters have been going to ME for work?

I think this is a set up

demon Monday, 15 November 2010 04:50 AM

Sri Lankan housemaids need more iron to their body's...thinking of producing of more red blood cells...(hemoglobin)

Muhammed Monday, 15 November 2010 04:49 AM

Sri Lanka and countries like Indonesia should stop sending maids to the Middle East. Its high time Arab states like Saudi, Kuwait and Jordan hire their own nationals to work as maids. These cases are unbearable to read and hear about.

Oyage Podi Guru Monday, 15 November 2010 04:39 AM

Education is the key, both for the employer and the employee. If these stories are really true, the FEB needs to get its act together.

Saradial Monday, 15 November 2010 04:23 AM

Need full investigation, we should find how they escape from Airport scanners? if this nails not detected in Air port then there is a big loop in our Airport security system.

Fair N Square Monday, 15 November 2010 04:22 AM

This seem to be a trend and need to be arrested. Act up SLFEB. Teach em their rights IF they are sent. Complain when in their land and NOT on arrival in SL, coz then credibility issues do not arise. Also compensation could be sought in their own countries. Hu,man rights need to be protected no matter where in the world it is.

gabby Monday, 15 November 2010 03:47 AM

This is unbelievable story. All cases involve nails and from three different countries. I feel there is a professional group who get hold of these innocent women and try to make a big buck of it. Authorities should get to the bottom of this mafia style group.

faizalsamsu Monday, 15 November 2010 03:39 AM

wow... all about nails... what r our authorities going to do 4 dis? things r getting worse if v dont respond to these abuses immediately...

Calistus Jayatilleke Monday, 15 November 2010 03:34 AM

Either the countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan etc. have an excess of wire nails which they want to get rid of or else they are experimenting with the ancient laws of "nail for nail" and "eye for eye". Either way, it is not good for our country if more and more Arab employers try this method on the innocent maids. In the same way ancient Romes enjoyed watching slaves battle it out with lions and tigers, probably this may be a hobby for the sadistic employers.

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Maid tortured in Jordan

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