Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Humanity degraded - maid lives to tell ‘chilling’ stay in hell-hole
Kuwait City : A Filipina household helper who was allegedly severely beaten and then thrown out from a third floor window by her Arab employers survived to tell her harrowing tale.
25-year-old Christina (last name withheld on her request) said she underwent operation to correct her broken spine and leg at Al Razi hospital last July 20 where she was brought after the incident.
According to Christina, she ran away from her employers’ home due to physical maltreatment and being denied food, so she sought refuge at her agency’s office in Hawally which then reportedly called her employers who immediately came to fetch her.
Despite her protestations against going back, she said she was forcibly dragged by her employers with the help of an agency employee through a back entrance to avoid attracting attention, to their car and while inside, was continuously beaten and kicked.
“On our arrival at my employers’ home, I was kicked and punched all over my body and later taken to a room and told to stop crying or they will throw me out of the window. But because of the excruciating pain I felt from the beating, I couldn’t help crying, so they came back into the room, opened the window and dragged me towards it. I cried and begged them not to and clung to my employer’s legs but they kicked me repeatedly on my face until I was groggy and half conscious and then found myself falling and hitting the ground hard,” Christina sobbingly recalled her
ordeal.
She said she learned her employers she called for an ambulance which then took her to Al Razi Orthopedic hospital where she underwent emergency surgery for a broken spine and a broken leg.
A concerned compatriot, a nurse, at Al Razi hospital reportedly called the Philippine Embassy to alert them about her case and shortly thereafter, a representative from the embassy came to check on her.
She was discharged from the hospital three days ago and is now being looked after at the Filipino Workers Resource Center or FWRC of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office at the Philippine Embassy.
Screaming and crying in pain even at the slightest movement, she struggled to utter a few words asking H.E. Ambassador Ricardo M. Endaya to seek justice for her and make her employers and the agency answer in court for leaving her maimed, possibly for life.
According to knowledgeable sources, the employers are refusing to cooperate, ignoring summons from the Philippine Embassy to appear and shed light on the matter. Ambassador Endaya also has reportedly called the agency’s representative and the owner to explain their side in allegedly forcing the victim to return to her employers despite knowledge that she was being maltreated.
The Philippine Embassy has retained the services of top caliber Kuwaiti lawyers to handle Christina’s case.
Ambassador Endaya held an emergency meeting Sunday with embassy and POLO staff to discuss cases of abused workers and to remind them of their responsibility as diplomats whose main concern should be the protection of Filipino nationals
Meanwhile, another Filipina is reportedly recuperating at Al Razi hospital for injuries caused by a falling sofa thrown by persons unknown, from atop a building in Bneid Al Gar. She has reportedly been recently transferred to a ward from the Intensive Care Unit.
Investigations are going on to identify the person or persons responsible.
By Boie Conrad Dublin
Arab Times Staff
25-year-old Christina (last name withheld on her request) said she underwent operation to correct her broken spine and leg at Al Razi hospital last July 20 where she was brought after the incident.
According to Christina, she ran away from her employers’ home due to physical maltreatment and being denied food, so she sought refuge at her agency’s office in Hawally which then reportedly called her employers who immediately came to fetch her.
Despite her protestations against going back, she said she was forcibly dragged by her employers with the help of an agency employee through a back entrance to avoid attracting attention, to their car and while inside, was continuously beaten and kicked.
“On our arrival at my employers’ home, I was kicked and punched all over my body and later taken to a room and told to stop crying or they will throw me out of the window. But because of the excruciating pain I felt from the beating, I couldn’t help crying, so they came back into the room, opened the window and dragged me towards it. I cried and begged them not to and clung to my employer’s legs but they kicked me repeatedly on my face until I was groggy and half conscious and then found myself falling and hitting the ground hard,” Christina sobbingly recalled her
ordeal.
She said she learned her employers she called for an ambulance which then took her to Al Razi Orthopedic hospital where she underwent emergency surgery for a broken spine and a broken leg.
A concerned compatriot, a nurse, at Al Razi hospital reportedly called the Philippine Embassy to alert them about her case and shortly thereafter, a representative from the embassy came to check on her.
She was discharged from the hospital three days ago and is now being looked after at the Filipino Workers Resource Center or FWRC of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office at the Philippine Embassy.
Screaming and crying in pain even at the slightest movement, she struggled to utter a few words asking H.E. Ambassador Ricardo M. Endaya to seek justice for her and make her employers and the agency answer in court for leaving her maimed, possibly for life.
According to knowledgeable sources, the employers are refusing to cooperate, ignoring summons from the Philippine Embassy to appear and shed light on the matter. Ambassador Endaya also has reportedly called the agency’s representative and the owner to explain their side in allegedly forcing the victim to return to her employers despite knowledge that she was being maltreated.
The Philippine Embassy has retained the services of top caliber Kuwaiti lawyers to handle Christina’s case.
Ambassador Endaya held an emergency meeting Sunday with embassy and POLO staff to discuss cases of abused workers and to remind them of their responsibility as diplomats whose main concern should be the protection of Filipino nationals
Meanwhile, another Filipina is reportedly recuperating at Al Razi hospital for injuries caused by a falling sofa thrown by persons unknown, from atop a building in Bneid Al Gar. She has reportedly been recently transferred to a ward from the Intensive Care Unit.
Investigations are going on to identify the person or persons responsible.
By Boie Conrad Dublin
Arab Times Staff
September 17, 2009
On Tuesday evening, I met Christina when I joined a team of doctors, nurses, & ministers from the Lighthouse Church at the Overseas Labor Office/Philippine Embassy. After pursuing this opportunity for several weeks, I was invited to join the group for the monthly clinic they offer the runaway housemaids who are being temporarily housed in a villa beside the Embassy.
I believe I have found my place here; I felt so drawn to these beautiful girls & ladies who have suffered so much pain and injustice. I am investigating how I can go on a weekly basis with 2-3 others who share my vision. Currently, there is a weekly church service on Friday mornings which the girls & I will attend tomorrow. The door has been flung open wide due to a Christian Labor Attaché who now has this post. There are similar situations at other Asian Embassies but the "entrance" is well guarded.
When I arrived to the basement room, it was filled with Muslim ladies all breaking their fast, seated in a circle on the floor. I was pleased to see such a nice meal being served to them from styrofoam containers, but learned the food was only for the Muslims who had been fasting and the non-Muslims could have the leftovers, if there were any. This was part of the charity provided during Ramadan.
Soon, these ladies disappeared and the room filled with mostly uncovered women who formed a line to receive their "check-up." As the team arrived, seats were set up and we learned there would be a time of worship first. I chatted with the women who were very warm and open. I held one little boy who clung to me like I was his mother. He kept bringing his face around in front of my face and staring into my eyes, then put his lips near my cheek. He refused to go to anyone who tried to take him from me. I never did figure out who his mother was. There are now 7 children living in these cramped quarters with the women. Four or Five more maids come daily and a few get their legal papers processed and are allowed to leave the country each day, but several of them have more complicated issues and have been stuck there for months or even years. There is no schooling for the kids while there, no play room, very limited resources.
As they were preparing to worship, the leader started talking to the ladies. The first thing I heard her say was something like "You have to choose and there are only 2 options. Do you want to go to heaven and be with Jesus, or do you want eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire?" I thought this was a pretty abrupt, direct approach! Still women kept squeezing in. While they were singing, a girl who looked about 17 entered on crutches. She was beaming with joy. We hugged, and I learned this was Christina who had been told she was paralyzed and could never walk again. Pastor Martin explained that she accepted Christ a few weeks ago, and at the last healing service, God did a miracle in her life and she is now back on her feet!!! I had read the above article and seen her photo in the Arab Times paper one month ago. I was so struck by the article, I cut it out and had it on my dresser all this time. Isn't God amazing?
From Isaiah 57: "I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low spirited, the spirit- crushed. And what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again."
I had to leave before I ever got to use my stethoscope; I had another function to attend. I can't wait to get back. My dear friend, Becky, shares the heart I have for these ladies and we are brainstorming about how we could best serve them while they wait and heal. Pray I will "get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade." (Romans 3:27)
Here is my attempt to express my sentiment:
My heart is pregnant with anticipation.
A cloud, seeded with this dream
rained on my spirit many moons ago.
The tears of God began to wet my soul.
I felt his grief for victims of injustice:
especially for women without power
to break the chains that bind,
who suffer from mistaken identity
and think they are the sum of
crimes done to them, through them.
I longed to tell them who their Father is
and what he thinks of them.
If they could see their beauty as does he,
their worth; so precious and so rare...
perhaps the healing could begin
as light wins out and forces dark to flee.
But doors were locked and bolted shut
as if no needs behind them hid.
"Why God, when none wants what I have to offer
would you plant this desire inside my breast?"
In time, you brought us here
where broken housemaids flee in fear
unpaid, abused, and overworked without concern.
You see, you care, you plot
through Christians with messy methods
but a common love of you.
The door propped open wide, bids me leap
to find your face among the lost...
I knew I'd find you here
your power on display
repairing ruins, you make all things new.
Alas, in this most humble place
I worship you!
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