Each citizen to be given single identification number<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is preparing a new demographic system that will
\nprovide each citizen with a single identification number for
\nvarious administrative purposes from birth to death.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a press conference that followed a cabinet meeting
\non Thursday, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said the
\nsystem would simplify the current system.<\/p>\n
\"That serial number will be used on all kinds of
\nidentification cards, such as driving licenses, passports and
\nother documents like birth certificates,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
The number will be attached to a citizen forever, even if he
\nor she dies.<\/p>\n
\"The identification number of a deceased cannot be used by
\nother citizens,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
Currently the country uses more than 50 tables to identify its
\ncitizens by their place of birth, residence and other
\nqualifications.<\/p>\n
The identification number will begin with the code area of his
\nor her birth place and residence in order to monitor a citizen's
\nmovements.<\/p>\n
\"People could migrate across the country, but their citizen
\nidentification number should remain,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Possessing more than one identity card (KTP) or even passport
\nis not impossible in the country due to the lack of coordinated
\ndata of citizens.<\/p>\n
Many foreigners easily obtain fake Indonesian identification,
\nopening the possibility for notorious criminals, including drug
\ntraffickers, to seek sanctuary in the country.<\/p>\n
The government has tried to curb such practices and keep track
\nof the movement of its citizens by issuing stringent regulations.<\/p>\n
\"Off course we will introduce the system gradually as it will
\nbe impossible to change the current demographic administration
\nimmediately,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
The minister failed to elaborate on the time table to
\nintroduce the system, that will be on line across the country,
\nsaying it will take more than five years to do so.<\/p>\n
\"Such a system requires telephone lines and electricity in
\nevery regency, and so far only 45 out of 410 regencies are ready
\nfor the system,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
The absence of telephone lines should not be a major problem
\nas at the same time the ministry of telecommunications and
\ntransportation has been preparing to install the lines in all
\nregencies by 2005.<\/p>\n
Regardless of such hindrances, the government will start
\ncollecting data on the country's citizens during the voter
\nregistration ahead of the 2004 election.<\/p>\n
The ministry of home affairs will cooperate with the General
\nElection Commission (KPU) and local administrations to collect
\nthe data, he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/each-citizen-to-be-given-single-identification-number-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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