Yet another delegation to seek the release of Rizana Nafeek

Seeking pardon for the Sri Lankan Housemaid Rizana Nafeek of Muthur, who was in the Saudi Arabia’s Dawdami Prison since on 25th May 2005, but presently languishing in the death row since June 16, 2007, described a slippery slope, as too many cooks are now involved in jumping on the bandwagon that leaves for Riyadh , Saudi Arabia on 14th November.

So far Sri Lanka Government has not heard any official response from the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the clemency appeal by Sri Lanka President, but now it is said that the execution has been suspended, but to date the suspension is not confirmed.

Therefore the Ministry for Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare since last August is involved in putting together a delegation to leave for Riyadh, to seek the pardon to the Sri Lankan Housemaid Rizana Nafeek.

Right from the beginning, the Ministry was non-plus, as many claimed themselves as Shariah Law specialist and demanded that they have to be included in the delegation that goes to Saudi Arabia to seek pardon for the house maid. In the end, the Ministry accommodated all those who exerted pressure as member of the delegation that will leave for Riyadh on 14th November.

Those claimed themselves as experts in Shariah Law managed to remove B.Kandeepan, a career diplomat, who was the Director of the Middle East desk in the Ministry of external Affairs, for reasons unknown. Another casuality in the Rizana Nafeek's episode.

In the meantime, Asian Tribune now learnt that the Ministry has come up with a delegation to be led by the octogenarian Alavi Moulana, the Governor of the Western Province, while Minister Rishad Bathuthien will not be available as he has official engagement in Brussels during the same period of time.

In the early part of this month, when I met the veteran Trade Unionist Alavi Moulana at his office in Colombo, who is a longstanding friend of mine, I saw him very frail and sickly and the old age has begun to tell on him. He meets more than one hundred people a day while attending his duty as the Governor - something testing his determination and grit. A confidante of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and even Minister Dillan Perera considers him as a senior most SLFP leader and treats him fatherly respect.

When I asked him why he did not participate in the Sri Lankan delegation that left for Saudi Arabia to participate in the funeral ceremony of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, he told me that his health condition did not permit him to fly to Riyadh and back.

I feel that it is asking too much from the veteran trade union patriarch Alavi Moulana to lead the delegation to Riyadh.

In the meantime according to sources, the other members of the delegation are:

Nakaeeb Moulana – Coordinating Secretary to the Governor of the Western Province,

A.H.M Azwer Party list MP,

M.S. Thowfeek MP for Muthur

Nissanka N. Wijeratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion & Welfare

Kingsley Ranawaka , Chairman , Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment

I.Ansar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs

Moulavi Mohamed Imran

Moulavi MohAmed Careem

Mohammed and Rifana Nafeek, parents of Rizana Nafeek.

The two Moulavis are included, according to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion & Welfare, that both underwent Koranic studies in Saudi Arabia and they are expected to assist the delegation in negotiating in Arabic Language.

Also Read: Pardoning of Rizana Nafeek very far away: Uncertainty looms

- Asian Tribune -