Government to begin repatriating illegal migrants<\/p>\n
Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government will soon begin the process of repatriating some
\n400 illegal migrants, mostly Afghans, who see neither economic
\nfuture nor legal certainty for themselves if they stay in
\nIndonesia, an official said on Friday.<\/p>\n
According Muhammad Indra, the supervision and control director
\nat the Immigration Directorate General, the first 100 migrants
\nwould be transported by the end of this week.<\/p>\n
Of the 400 people, 385 are from Afghanistan, while the
\nremainder are Iraqis, Iranians, and Pakistanis, all of whom have
\nbeen staying in Indonesia for the past two years.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that they will inspire other illegal migrants to
\nreturn to their own countries at their own will -- they would
\nfind a better future in Afghanistan,\" Indra said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Ade Dachlan, the immigration spokesman, said that at least 100
\npeople would be sent home by Sunday, at the very the soonest,
\nwhile the others were waiting for their travel documents to be
\nissued by immigration officers.<\/p>\n
The plane tickets and accommodation would be arranged by the
\nInternational Organization for Migration (IOM), he added.<\/p>\n
IOM officials, however, denied that all of the migrants would
\nbe repatriated immediately, as officials are confirming the
\nsecurity condition in their home countries.<\/p>\n
The organization said that about 300 Afghans had expressed
\ninterest in returning to their country following the improvement
\nof security conditions there and the establishment of a new
\ngovernment in Kabul.<\/p>\n
\"We are in the process of discussing security conditions with
\nthe authorities in Kabul, the Emirates and Iran ... it's
\nimpossible to repatriate anyone by the end of this week -- even
\nin the next two weeks,\" Richard Danziger, the head of IOM in
\nIndonesia, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
There is still no exact time frame of when the migrants would
\nbe returned to their countries of origin.<\/p>\n
According to immigration office data, there are currently
\n1,663 illegal migrants across Indonesia; of these, 493 have been
\ngranted refugee status by the United Nations High Commission for
\nRefugees (UNHCR), and are awaiting completion of the resettlement
\nprocess.<\/p>\n
Illegal migrants -- which often use Indonesia as a transit
\npoint on their way to Australia and other Western countries --
\nhave strained diplomatic relations between Indonesia and
\nAustralia recently. Australia has criticized Indonesia for being
\ninept in guarding the coasts of its archipelago.<\/p>\n
To address the issue, Indonesian and Australian government
\nofficials will hold a conference on people smuggling in Bali at
\nthe end of the month.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-begin-repatriating-illegal-migrants-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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