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May 21, 2004

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Rushing to judgements

It is easy to jump on the bandwagon when the latest "hot" story hits the press. The press sensationalise and try and generate emotional reactions. Usually a side is taken, even subtly, and you are exposed to that side of the story.
The full facts are not always evident.

(Be warned that there are some disturbing photographs in these links).

This is not such a story.

Malaysian police have arrested a woman who repeatedly beat her Indonesian maid, burned her with a hot iron and scalded her with boiling water.
The violation, the breach of any standards of human decency are an extreme extension of common attitudes to domestic helpers in Asia. There may be "outrage" over this but the sad reality is this is merely a particularly bad example of a common practice. This was not an isolated event. Physical, verbal or sexual abuse of domestic helpers is a racist scourge in Asia and yet it recieves little attention.

I only hope this woman is punished to the full extent of the law and her treatment stands as an example to others who do the same. She has in effect "raped" this young woman and scarred her for life: her dreams shattered, her body ruined and her mind broken. It is no surprise that this employer is alleged to have abused her own children too. There are no winners in a story like this. But if it lhelps prevent other cases in the future then at least there is some consolation from the whole mess.

 posted by Simon on 05.21.04 at 02:16 PM in the




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Comments:

Hateful. ... Just hateful.

Keep up the good work.

 posted by: Michael on 05.22.04 at 02:34 AM [permalink]




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