KM Investigative Story
Expatriate Workers face harassment and robbery in Satwa
DUBAI September 26 2004 -Many expatriate residents of Satwa, an upper middle class residential pocket of Dubai, partially inhabited by poor construction workers have experienced the bitter taste of gangsterism and goondaism, which is not heard about in other parts of Dubai, a paradise for tourists from all over the world. Even when many local residents of Satwa are relocating to Jumeira and other emerging upper class residential areas, life in Satwa is becoming scary for many expatriates because of utter public nuisance created by gangs who attack pedestrians, especially the construction workers, who return home late after work in the night with knife and other weapons to extract money, mobile phones and other valuables.
Residents living in a particular part of Satwa who spoke to KM looting of pedestrians who walk through the interior roads and residential lanes is reported occasionally. Lonely pedestrians face the risk of being attacked with knife and other banned small arms like pepper sprays. The latest attack occurred against a Pakistani expatriate Mr.Khan, who is admitted in Rashdiya Hospital Ward No 2 after he sustained severe head injury caused by an attack by the member of such a group. The poor expatriate is now admitted in the hospital for treating a severe skull injury caused by ruthless attack by a gang member. Another incident that indicates the growing crime is the damage caused to 20 four wheel drives in the Safa 1 area of Jumeirah-Satwa, by unidentified criminals.
Pedestrians Workers face Attacks
"I heard stories of looting and attack on pedestrians in Satwa. However, the other day I was caught by a gang, but did not physically harm me," says M. Jayamoorthi, an expatriate worker from Tamil Nadu residing in the area. "Normally I come back from duty at 9.30 PM but last week I came back after duty at 1.30 when a six foot man showed me a sharp knife and asked to take out money and mobile phone. His face was covered and I could not see him. I had only twenty Dhirams and my mobile phone," Jayamoorthi said. His company driver dropped him in Satwa main road, from where he had to walk through isolated lanes. Such cases go unnoticed because the victims are mostly expatriate workers or "Kalli Valli" people, a colloquial term referring to people without proper visa and labour card. "Even though I am scared, I did not report the case to the police because it could create further problems for my job," said Jayamoorthy who faced such a traumatic experience for the first time in his life. Dubai Police confirmed that such cases are rarely reported by the victims.
The main target of attack is the expatriate workers who assemble in the Satwa park to meet friends or wait to work as casual workers. "Recently a Dubai Municipality cleaning staff was severely attacked. Similarly ordinary workers who use the park to take shelter also face isolated attacks. At six o clock morning one person who went into the Satwa bus stand bathroom was beaten up. Some people come to the park to drink and sometimes abuse innocent people," said Sameer who works in a nearby shop.
Armed gangs occasionally stop people, take their money, purse mobile phones and other valuables using force and intimidation tactics. The gangs also enter expatriate homes and steal valuables like mobile phones, said residents. "The problem is in the night when pedestrians are forcefully taken into isolated gangs, take out their money and valuables and often physically harm them by beating and kicking. It is a regular feature of life in Satwa and people have learned to avoid the problem by not carrying much cash or traveling alone in the midnight. "Sometimes they are kind enough to return labour card, driving license or other documents of the victims. It could be under the influence of alcohol or drugs that they do it. It is mainly in certain part of the city and the police have been more vigilant in recent times," added another resident.
"We have been doing cafeteria business here for the last twenty five years. Sometimes local gangs come and disrupt business. We had a major fight with a group of four youngsters who came to the shop, bought sandwiches and left without paying," says Basheer of Sports Athletic Cafeteria. According to him, one of the employee sustained head injury due to a knife attack. "They came equipped with pepper sprayers and knife. In the pandemonium created by the gang, one of the cafeteria employees sustained head injury and was admitted in Rashdiya Hospital. Police came and filed a case," he said. Some cafeterias and shops in Satwa have such stories complains against such criminals.
Another cafeteria staff in the area had a tiff when some people misused a glass kept for the public to drink chilled water. "The cafeteria staff had a big quarrel about the issue. Since many Muslims who come to pray in the adjacent Mosque use the same glass, some residents opposed the gang using it for drinking alcohol." says Hussain, an Indian residing in Satwa for the last ten years.
"People are scared of walking alone through the area. Recently a construction worker was looted in the night showing a knife. The gang follows people walking alone through the area and takes them to isolated lanes, takes out their purse, labour card and mobile phones. Those who oppose are severely beaten up and dumped bleeding," said Abubnaker, another resident. "If you want to know what the problem in Satwa is, you just go inside the residential villa areas and experience for yourself. I am sure that your mobile phone and cash will be robbed," said one of the shop owners in the area. Even if the shoppers business is disrupted by the gang, they are reluctant to register police case fearing the worse from the gang. The best way to avoid trouble is to keep less amount of money in pocket and don't carry any valuables including a mobile phone. To avoid trouble, many expatriates change residence to Jafilia, an adjacent area.
Park for Parking Criminals
The Satwa Park was created four years ago as a place to allow residents and bus stand users to take rest and relax. However, not many families visit the area, which is occupied by illegal workers who come to Dubai from South Asia "We are living here because there is no other place to live in Satwa. The rent is too high and we don't have regular work. We don't have a regular place to live and use the park as shelter. We use the public toilet and sleep here itself. The gang members often attack us and create problems," says Ameer from Pakistan. "We are scared to go to police station because we are illegal or Kalli valli people. There are many Kalli Valli people in the area who eager wait outside the park to go for construction work," he added.
"People cannot fight back because they come in groups. Even if there are only two or three members in the gang, other group members are called through mobile phones to attack. Within a few minutes, many of the gang members come from different directions," said one of the victims. When contacted the Dubai Police spokesman seeking his opinion about this crime he did not give any information and said such crimes are not reported officially. However, the police have been vigilant recently due to such cases in the past.
Looting Shops
"Our saloon was looted in the night and all telephone cards and money were taken away. Shopkeepers are scared to speak out or make complaints as such steps may further antagonize the gang," said a shop owner in the location. "We are here to do business and by entering into direct fight with the anti social elements, we don't want to risk further problems," said another shop owner of Satwa. Some expatriate families have moved to Jafilia or other crime free areas of Dubai. "Compared to earlier situation, the police patrolling is more. However, the problem created by anti social elements continue to affect normal life for expatriate workers," said a photographer working in a local studio.
"For the last six months, Satwa Park has been our home as we don't have any other place to live," say three illegal workers from Pakistan who are cheated by the human traffickers from Pakistan. According to them, the Park provides them protection and act as a home away from home. Often the normal life is disrupted by armed gangs who often abuse and physically assaulting such workers.," he added. The residents urged that even though Dubai police has been more vigilant in recent times, they should be more proactive.
"There is a family park Safa Park in Satwa. Families don't come to Satwa park because the place is occupied by bachelors, illegal workers and drunkards. Initially the park was a good place for residents and families to relax. Now it is a den of anti social elements. We fear attacks from such gangs and people don't report such cases due to fear," says B.Singh, a resident working for an electromechanical firm.
"Some people come and buy goods and walk away without paying. The problem was more in the past and now it has come down due to police vigilance. The main problem is for cafeterias and shops which remain open till early morning," said another Satwa shop owner. Normally police advise people to change accommodation to relatively safer places like Jafilia. However, the problem is spreading to other parts of Satwa and the police need to be more vigilant, added another resident.
KM Special Investigation Reports
(click arrows)
Bomb Hoax Disrupts Standard Chartered Bur Dubai head Office for 3- Hours
By V.M.Sathish
DUBAI - July 15, 2004 A bomb hoax has created temporary panic and confusion at the UAE headquarters of Standard Chartered bank, one of the leading western multinational banks with operations in different Middle Eastern countries. The three hour security alert which started from 8.30 am ended at 11.30 as the bank security could not locate any dangerous explosives in the building premises. According to an official spokesman of Standard Chartered Bank Bur Dubai office, there was a bomb hoax about half an hour after the bank opened its door for business. "All the customers and bank employees were evacuated through the rear entrance as the security left the front door main entrance open for possible use by the fire squad and security," said an official. However, the bank and other offices working from the multistory building resumed normal work at 11.30. Bank customers could not conduct any transactions till 11.30 as the authenticity of bomb scare was verified. Some sources said the anonymous call which came from an Asian country was a false message intended to create panic. Full Report
Migrant Communities in Saudi Arabia Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia
Reports Click
Page 2
Over the last two decades, migrant workers worldwide have played an increasingly significant role in the economies of their countries of origin. The six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - are home to approximately ten million foreign workers, with the largest number in Saudi Arabia. There were seven million expatriates in the kingdom, about one-third of the total population, Dr. Ali al-Namlah, Saudi Arabia's then-long-serving minister of labor and social affairs, told Human Rights Watch(HRW) in January 2003 He added that 5.5 million of the total number of foreigners were workers, and the remainder their dependents. New statistics were disclosed in May 2004, indicating an even higher number of expatriates. According to labor minister Dr. Ghazi al-Ghosaibi, there were 8.8 million foreigners in the kingdom representing almost 50 percent of the indigenous population. The statistics department of the ministry of economy and planning reported in 2004 that non-Saudis accounted for 67 percent of the kingdom's labor force. Foreigners held 90 to 95 percent of the private sector jobs, Dr. Namlah told HRW. He described Saudi Arabia as "a land of opportunity" for qualified low-wage workers. Indeed, throughout the GCC states, jobs created in the private sector other than in the oil industry typically require only low skills and pay low wages.
NRI Federation, ISC Take anti-NRI Stand on Airline boycott
Double Standards -? Saileswaran disputes what Gopakumar says.
The Muscat-Kerala-Bombay passengers are paying the highest airfare than any other Gulf destinations due to the monopoly and mismanagement of the two national airlines and the clout enjoyed by two business groups which are managing the show in Muscat.All over the Gulf there is an intense campaign to boycott the two airlines. However, leaders of some of the so called social organisations in Muscat have proved once again that they stand for a few free tickets and sponsorship from the national airlines rather than fighting for a just cause and support many ordinary passengers who are now squeezed by the airline lobby. Reminding us the perverted stand taken by the Muscat based social organisations regarding the economic shipping service, some of the association members have shamelessly expressed their secret understanding with national carriers, which often give them a few free tickets or sponsorship. Gopakumar, the newly appointed general secretary of the NRI Federation and an active member of the ISC Malayalam Wing went to the extent of justying the high airfare charged by the Indian carriers. The hidden reason for Gopakuma's love for the Indian carriers is the sponsorship that his Muscat Soorya Chapter or the ISC Malayalam Wing get occasionally. Similarly the ISC has not only opposed the boycott call, but warned its linguistic wings to keep away from the issue. ISC's submission to the Khimji family is well known,. Who does not know that the maximum money from the airline ticket sales is made by the General Sales Agent (GSA). Despite the tall claims made by V T Saileswarn, President NRI Federation about working for the welfare of NRIs, its new office bearers have also shown their true colour by making media statements eulogising the national carriers and indirectly subotaging the boycott plan. Saileswaran, Gopakumar, CNP, Kalidasan, you practice what you preach. Remember C N P Nampoothiri and company who convened a press conference in New Delhi demanding immediate reduction of the high airfare to India? A few years back when Oman Air was lobbying to fly to Kochi. Not only that the ISC Scolded them for making such public statements, Oman Air managed to fly to Kochi. We were told that due to competition price will come down. Now instead of competition Oman Air has joined the cartel. The social organisations did not suppor the cheap shipping service that would have benefitted many. It is election time and all the political groups are active with NRI Problems. The boycott call will end as soon as the election gets over. - Editor.
Remember who subotaged the Muscat Kochi Shipping Service?
Indian Embassy Unable to Recover Pending Salary of Dead Keralite Worker
While the local media including the Times of Oman is keeping a safe distance from the workers problem, the fate of 200 workers of Bogus Tradig continues to remain bleak as the embassy has entered into a one sided agreement to get 60 per cent pending salary to the workers. Even though the fate of Bogust Trading workers has been similar to the problems facing salalah Workers, no one seems to have interest in them. Representatives of both Kairali and Asianet channels have visited them But they are unable to do any work. Due to unknown reasons, both the channels preferred not to report similar cases. Recently workers of MRP staged protest march against delay in getting payment. For a change, Asianet, the leading Malayalam Channel deputed a well known journalist to cover the Salalalh workers problem. After Keralamonitor reported the media bias and distortion, both the channels carried objective reports about the issue. It is learned that the police brought the businessman to the Indian Embassy. Meanwhile, Kiran Ashar of the Al Ansari group has offered a humanitarian gesture by offering food and accommodation to the workers.
Worker Dies in Deep sleep as Company Owners delay and deny Salary for Months
MUSCAT - Fifty years old Rajendran Pillai (from Kottiyam in Kollam Kerala) had a tragic end while sleeping in a make to shift labour camp of Bogest Company in the Ghala Industrial area, Oman. The worker died after serving a company as a mason for nine long years. The deceased father of three girls, two married, died of unknown reasons, probably a heart attack, while he was in deep sleep with three other workers in a small room. "Rajendran died sometimes in the night after he went to sleep with mental depression. Full Report
KM Special Report.Indian Ambassador prevents Social organizations from giving food and water to stranded Indian Workers.
Workers Cant Drink Embassy Water ; Have to leave with just a ticket: Kairali Channel Workers Channel hails the Ambassador for Sending Workers Home Empty Handed
MUSCAT - The fate of 55 Indian workers who are stranded in front of the Indian Embassy building here continues to remain bleak, as the embassy officials have failed to get any of their problems resolved. According to the workers, instead of lending a helping hand to the poor workers who are facing a grave situation in foreign country, the senior Indian embassy officials including the high profile Indian ambassador Talmiz Ahmed are allegedly acting in an inhuman and barbarian manner by preventing them from taking even a drop of drinking water from the embassy premises and not allowing social organizations to giving food, water or other support to them. Even though the embassy collects a fund from the public for workers welfare, nothing is given to the Indian workers. Workers also alleged that the senior embassy officials called the police to harass workers. But even the police officials felt sympathy for them. Workers allege that such actions are being taken by the embassy to help the local employer avoid payment of salary. More
Striking Salalah Workers Forcibly Removed from Indian Embassy Premises
Ffifty years old Gopala Pillai, another worker of United Contracting Company, Salalah died of cancer in Kerala ten days after he was send home for further treatment. The Sultan Qaboos Hospital diagnosed his disease and recommended further treatment in Kerala. However, the United Contractors was reluctant to send him for treatment as the Indian "manager" and Omani owner considered the diseases theory as "yet another pretext to go home"! Well the Indian worker died ten days after reaching Kerala and his salary is still pending with United Contracting company owned by a big Omani businessman. His hospital bill was paid from his pending salary! Venu Attingal from Trivandrum, like his colleagues, has worked fifteen years had his last vacation four years back.Full Report
Bank's Mega Prize Schemes to Lure big Customers, Favour Group Employees?
Banks in Oman have found a novel method to honour their clients as well as their group company employees. Recently a official of a leading automobile distribution company was honoured with a prize from Bank Muscat, with a view to securing business wit this firm. Similarly Oman International bank also awards prizes to Omzest employees. It is essential that prizes awarded to deposit holders should include all deposit holders and the draw should be conducted publicly to avoid such glaring bungles.Discuss.
Former Oman Police Official Arrested in India for Espionage Charges?
Habib Ibrahim Rehmutala, ex-policemen of Oman, his wife Sonu Nagma and Indian agent Bhagwan Sahai working as an abettor were arrested in India, Inspector-General of Police A K Jain announced recently." A number of telephone diaries, e-mail addresses, photos and documents were seized from their house after they were arrested at a bus stand which they used frequently for transmitting information to Pakistan, Jain said. Having a number of passports from Nepal, Muscat (Oman), and Pakistan, Habib has got three wives, two in Oman, and eight children, Srivastava said. The main accused was the sub-inspector of police at Abu-Dhabi during 1982-96 and later in India used to send dancing groups to gulf countries," the SP said.A case under the Foreigners Act and the Official Secret Act has been registered against them, media reports said . More
Galfar Mohammed Ali Rewarded with Pravasi Award
MUSCAT — Work had taken P. Mohamed Ali, managing director of Galfar Engineering and Contracting LLC, the flagship of the Galfar Group of Companies, somewhere into the desert, in the interior of Oman, when he suddenly received a call on his mobile, late last week. It was the Indian Ambassador, Talmiz Ahmed, calling up to inform Mohamed Ali that he had received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Award), read Adarsh Madhavan's special Report on Dr.P Mohammed Ali, the most prominent Indian in the Gulf Link http://www.timesofoman.com/newsdetails.asp?newsid=48638
Beware of HIV Positive Needles in Pubic Places
There are all sorts of loons loose in the world. This happened in Paris. A few weeks ago, in a movie theatre, a person Felt something poking from her seat. When she got up to see what it was, She found a needle sticking out of the seat with a note attached saying : "You have just been infected by HIV". More
US planned to invade Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Abu Dhabi to capture oil fields
LONDON -The USA and Britain were prepared to use military force to secure Arab oil supplies during the Oil crisis , say media reports quoting a secret document released by the British intelligence in London yesterday. "The United States seriously considered sending airborne troops to seize oilfields in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi during the Arab oil embargo," said a top-secret British intelligence memorandum released yesterday. It also revealed that the US considered various options including the replacement of Arab rulers with "more amenable" leaders. They planned a short airborne operation to snatch away precious oil fields from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, the report suggested. Full Report
©keralamonitor.com 2004
