Illegal migration a 'global threat'<\/p>\n
Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua<\/p>\n
The surge in illegal migration, partially due to human
\ntrafficking by organized crime syndicates, is posing a serious
\nthreat to world security, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
\nHamid Awaluddin says.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the Fourth Asia-Europa
\nDirector General Meeting on the Management of Migratory Flows,
\nthe minister said the activities of transnational organized crime
\nsyndicates facilitated and exacerbated problems related to
\nillegal migration.<\/p>\n
"Transnational criminal networks are not only engaged in the
\nsmuggling of people, including women and children, but are also
\ninvolved in a long list of other criminal activities such as
\ndocument fraud, money laundering, the trafficking of narcotics
\nand arms smuggling," Hamid said.<\/p>\n
He said the syndicates were linked to an international terror
\nnetwork.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia is aware of, and very much alert to, the dangers
\nposed by migratory flows. It is clear that terrorist attacks
\ncarried out in recent times involved foreign nationals," he said.<\/p>\n
Due to closer cooperation and concerted efforts among Asia-
\nEurope Meeting (ASEM) member countries and other international
\nagencies, Indonesia has been able to curb the number of illegal
\nmigrants from 4,000 to 300 people a year, the minister added.<\/p>\n
The three-day meeting is co-sponsored by China, Denmark, the
\nUnited Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain and the European
\nCommission. The Bali meeting follows up recommendations made
\nduring the third ASEM in the Hague in November last year.<\/p>\n
Attending the meeting are representatives from the European
\nCommission and 38 ASEM partners, including Austria, Belgium,
\nASEAN countries, Japan, Korea, Denmark, France, the United
\nKingdom, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
\nSlovenia, Slovak, Italy and Ireland.<\/p>\n
The participants are expected to discuss the best practices
\nand recent trends in the management of migratory flows,
\nparticularly issues on immigration information sharing;
\ncooperation in enhancing border control management and
\ncooperation in migration management.<\/p>\n
The panel will also debate the issue of unrecognized refugee
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
The Hague meeting had recommended follow-up discussions on
\ndocument security in combating illegal migration and human
\ntrafficking, including the implementation of biometric technology
\nschedules.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of the meeting, Director General of
\nImmigration Iman Santoso said Indonesia would start implementing
\nbiometric technology for travel document security next year.<\/p>\n
"Passport holders will be identified physically, including by
\ntheir eyes, footprints and face. All data will be made available
\nto the country of destination," he said.<\/p>\n
The meeting, he said, would also discuss the possibility of
\nsetting up a hotline system for immigration officials of ASEM
\nmember countries. It would deal with the improvement of the
\npassport and visa systems, and advance passenger assessment,
\nincluding an airline database connection at every airport in
\nmember countries.<\/p>",
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