Salem-area job like slavery, Ethiopian says

[this_side_up]

Human-trafficking suit - The woman seeks nearly $1 million plus wages from a couple for whom she did domestic work

An impoverished Ethiopian woman who came to Oregon a decade ago seeking a better life working for a Salem-area doctor's family says that she was bullied and deceived into working 90 hours a week without pay.

(snips)

Derbew was also isolated. She spoke no English when she arrived. The Kurians refused to allow her to call family in Ethiopia, and she had no money, the suit says. And the Kurians lived on a remote farm.

(snips)

Gebrehiwot counseled her to demand the return of her work papers and back wages and to quit. But according to the suit, Derbew could not believe that her employers had taken such advantage of her. "The fact that they held themselves out to be devout Christians, who were held in high regard within their Church, gave Ms. Derbew hope that Mr. Gebrehiwot was wrong," according to the suit.

(I've had it with Christians)

Soon, the Gilberts sent Derbew to work for friends in Texas, threatening her with jail if she did not cooperate, the suit says.

(snips)

But instead of fixing Derbew's immigration status, Kurian brought her back to Vancouver, borrowed $2,000 from her and required her to work without pay, the suit says.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1164862522151320.xml&coll=7&thispage=1

[warrens]

1. Lock. Up. Throw. Away. Key.

[Union Thug]

2. Too good for them... Louisville slugger sounds appropriate to me.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

3. Unbelievable

What could possibly possess these freaks to think they could enslave a woman for 10 years!

[Greyhound]

4. They did, didn't they? This case is not unique, nor is it really that uncommon.

We cling to certain beliefs, like slavery doesn't exist in our country, as a prop to rationalize our lifestyle, and therefore we don't have to be concerned about this kind of thing. The plain facts are that our lifestyle creates world-wide misery, and naturally some of that suffering will happen here, where it is harder to ignore.

Oh well, these people are caught so we can now return to our regularly scheduled holiday shopping...

[this_side_up]

6. because she went to school in Houston?

I looked up the good doctor's medical license. Born in 65, U of Tx in
Houston, graduated May 1991. Licensed here in 94, license expires
12/2007.

If it is her home listed in the phone book, then she is 30 minute drive
south of Salem in a high meth area.

Unfortunately her office is quite close to my house.

[Igel]

5. Put them in the same room as the Sa'udi couple.

Tell them all that the first person to get all the others to sign an affadavit that they're his/her slaves goes free; the slaves stay, and divide up the other's jail time among them. Make sure they all have some clubs, nothing too heavy. Then go away, watching the free-for-all on close-circuit tv. Make sure their victims are there, if they want to be.

When one finally wins and has the affadavits in hand, show up with an envelope from the warden. Inside have a single card that says "Just kidding!"

Then drug the Sa'udis and get them to confess to converting to Judaism and saying Muhammed isn't a prophet; send them, and the video of their confession, to Riyadh. Send the Oregon doctor and his family to Ethiopa.