Haj pilgrims complain of extortion<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Only days after the government and the Saudi
\nArabian embassy solved the problem of late visas for pilgrims
\nwhich caused some delayed and canceled flights, another hiccup in
\nthe haj operation occurred.<\/p>\n
A number of pilgrims are complaining that they have to resort
\nto bribery in order to facilitate their trip to the Kaaba in
\nMecca.<\/p>\n
Officials, some pilgrims told The Jakarta Post, demanded money
\nin exchange for documents which will gain them entry into the haj
\ndormitory before taking off for Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
The government rules that only prospective pilgrims who have
\nbeen issued visas are given the documents needed to enter the
\ndormitory.<\/p>\n
Siti, a pilgrim from Depok, West Java, said she paid Rp 10,000
\nextra to an official in order to obtain the dormitory document.
\n\"It would take more time if I did not give them the money,\" she
\nsaid quietly.<\/p>\n
\"You will not get the document unless you give the officials
\nsome money,\" said Sadli who had to pay Rp 20,000 for both his and
\nhis wife's documents.<\/p>\n
Suparman, the head of the Jakarta command post for the haj
\noperation, denied that extortion is taking place. \"I know nothing
\nabout it, and I have never received reports about it,\" he told
\nthe Post.<\/p>\n
Abdul, a prospective pilgrim from South Jakarta, inquired
\nabout his document by the telephone but failed to get a response.
\n\"The official who answered my call only said 'later, later',\"
\nAbdul said angrily.<\/p>\n
Officials in charge of the haj operation should automatically
\nsend the documents to pilgrims who already have visas, two days
\nbefore the departure schedules at the latest. In practice,
\nhowever, there are pilgrims who are notified by officials, only
\nhours before departure time, that they should fetch the documents
\nthemselves at the dormitory.<\/p>\n
Suparman said the delay in sending off the documents occurred
\nbecause the officials had to rearrange flight schedules. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/haj-pilgrims-complain-of-extortion-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}