Hundreds move weekly to Batam<\/p>\n
BATAM, Riau: Despite the anti-migration ruling in Batam,
\nhundreds of jobseekers from Sumatra and Java have been migrating
\nillegally to the resort island.<\/p>\n
The migrants generally enter secretly by boat to the three
\nmain harbor areas on the island, which is known as playground for
\nmiddle-class Singaporeans, with its golf courses and upmarket
\nresorts.<\/p>\n
In an effort to halt the influx of illegal, local authorities
\nhave deployed more than 200 officers in the three main seaports
\nto monitor the inflow of people from different provinces and
\ndozens have been sent back to their home towns in Sumatra and
\nJava after officials were not satisfied with their documentation.<\/p>\n
The Batam authorities have enacted into law article No. 2\/2001
\nwhich went into effect on Oct. 1 in a move to control the
\npopulation on the already crowded island. The ruling prohibits
\npeople from entering at any official entry points without
\nnecessary documentation.<\/p>\n
\"People who come in from other provinces will be put into a
\nquarantine center for two weeks before being sent back to their
\nhome village. The island is at its capacity and cannot
\naccommodate migrant people,\" Mustofa Wijaya, a spokesman for the
\nlocal administration, said.<\/p>\n
The ruling also threatens a five-year jail sentence against
\nanyone attempting to migrate to the island without permission or
\na clear destination on the island. -- Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hundreds-move-weekly-to-batam-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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