Anyone know more about the 1300 missing bangladeshi cleaners?

This is a follow-up article Rev. Andy posted back on the 3rd Nov. 2007. I posted a couple of articles back then, here and here. I presume these guys were rounded up and deported without a bean, of if they did get anything, on the proviso that they keep their mouths shut and not complain any further. Anyone hear/see what actually happened?

Where have they gone?

By Rev Andy Thompson St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ahmadi BANGLADESHI labourers who were the focus on an Arab Times campaign over the summer have disappeared. Mr Stan Gustas, a friend of the labourers reports receiving several distressed phone calls from workers two nights ago. Another friend of the labourers also received a call and heard the sound of shouting and things being broken and smashed. Arab Times readers responded generously over the summer in providing food and water. They gave in response because the labourers had not been paid for ten months by an unscrupulous company who had brought them in under false pretences. Due to non-payment and appalling living circumstances, over a thousand men had no water and food. Arab Times readers provided two industrial size water coolers which were bolted to the wall and this was deeply appreciated by the workers. Today those same water coolers had been ripped off the walls and have disappeared. The few meager possessions that were owned by the workers were thrown into the gutter and are piled high in the street preventing access into the building. All the windows have been smashed and what was once the abode to over two hundred men lies eerily silent. Neighbours report the violence two nights ago and allegedly police were involved. Many of the Bangladeshi men were waiting to go home. Sheikha Bibi Al-Nasser Al-Sabah said she was appalled and is distressed that certain companies are still allowed to traffic in human labour. This is a human rights issue and she is deeply concerned that once again Kuwait’s honourable reputation is being sullied by a few corrupt men. She called for the company to be investigated. Sheikha Bibi was in the process of helping the labourers to return home with air tickets and compensation. Other organisations were also involved in seeking help to return the distressed workers. Mr Abdulmuhsin Taqi Muzaffar from the Kuwait Society for Human Rights expressed his deep concern about this turn of events. He and his society were working hard on behalf of the labourers and recently had meetings with the Ministry of Social and Labour Affairs and the Bangladeshi embassy. He also called for an investigation to find out why these workers have been so badly treated. Friends are now seeking to locate the missing men. The Bangladeshi embassy employed a lawyer several months ago to seek the workers rights in court. It is not known however when the case will be completed. They are aware that a new company wanted to relocate the workers to a site in Mahboula, but admitted that several of the workers did not want to move or work for the new company. Many Arab Times readers were unstinting in their sympathy and support for the labourers. “We were very close to seeing a happy ending to their plight with the imminent opportunity for them to go home. I hope that whoever is holding these men will allow them to go home to their families soon,” they added. andythompson1968@hotmail.com