Let Rizana’s execution be a lesson

Rizana Nafeek’s story came to a tragic end with her execution last week.

The incident that received a massive media attention is a conspicuous reflection of the social, economic and political tragedy the Sri Lankan society has been dragged into. This is not the first time a Sri Lankan woman who had gone for employment abroad has been sentenced to death. Even thought,  the incident could easily  be defined as another instance of punishment for the crime of murder, Rizana’s execution points out several other special angles we need to pay heed as a nation.

Rizana decides to seek foreign employment at an age that she is not old enough to attend to household chores in her own home. She was only 16 years old then. The reality was that her parents had no other alternative but to send her abroad for the sake of their survival. Many who were dismayed by seeing the wattle and daub hut of Rizana’s family would know that it is not the only such ‘house’ in this island. This house, together with other stark factors such as economic instability and  financial insecurity are the inevitable components of the socio-economic tragedy that more than 4 million families in our island have been submerged in.

Going for foreign employment at the age of 16 is illegal. However, there is no limit to racketeers in a country who are ‘dedicated’ to do anything to satisfy the customers. As such, a foreign employment agency prepared a passport which did not show her real age. This is how she leaves to Saudi Arabia. A child in her care accidently dies barely two weeks after her employment in the residence.  Subsequently, she is arrested and sentenced to death in 2007. Her dream of putting up a house for her family was shattered.  Thereafter she would have lived hoping her country would mediate to save her.  

Many in Sri Lanka knew that a girl named Rizana had left to Saudi Arabia for employment and she had been sentenced to death only when the death sentence was pronounced. The Socialist Women’s Union of the JVP and various political organizations protested opposite the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Sri Lanka and carried out a strong media campaign requesting Saudi authorities to reconsider the punishment compassionately. However, Saudi Arabian regime was not prepared to consider this appeal for humanness.

 The Rajapaksa government told the country that it was mediating diplomatically through its Arabian friends to get the girl released. (However, it was revealed later that the government did not carry out any needful manoeuvre to get her released and it was not aware that the death sentence would be carried out.) The government reiterated that Rizana would be released by Saudi rulers on a request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

When she left for Saudi Arabia on a forged passport for employment in 2005 she was underage for legal employment. She was also underage when she erred.  According to Saudi law an underage person cannot be punished with death for any crime. However, the government of Sri Lanka or the authorities that made  a big noise stating they would save Rizana did not do anything to prove her real age and save her from the death sentence.

 They had ample time to do it during the long period from the time the death sentence was passed to the  day of the execution.  Those ministers and officials who went on tours claiming they would do everything to save her did not do anything on behalf of Rizana.

In short, the knavish statement made by Minister Dilan Perera in Parliament on the day she was executed vividly explains how much attention the government had shown regarding her situation. Even when she had been executed at 11.40 a.m. Sri Lanka time the Minister at 1.00 p.m. stated in Parliament that the government was mediating to save her. This indicates the political tragedy the country is confronted with.  



The masses are realizing the ludicrousness of such statements made to deceive the country, the masses and the Parliament. However, they are unable to enjoy this ludicrousness. For, Rizanas have to part with their lives; other Rizanas have to insert nails into their bodies, some more Rizanas have to jump from upper floors of the houses they are employed and break their limbs or commit suicide before they got noticed. Government ministers are again making their promises of constructing a house for Rizana’s family. Had promises made by these ministers been fulfilled the wattle and daub hut shouldn't have been shown as Rizana’s house. Masses should be aware of the blandishment of these ministers. All this indicates the need to take the country towards an economy that would not let Rizanas to leave the country or sometimes leave their lives for a trivial salary.  It is necessary to defeat the knavish politics of deceiving Rizana’s relatives and the people in the country by merely presenting a packet of money and also the system that plunders the money sent by those who work in foreign countries.