Island prepared for immigrants<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AP): Singapore is preparing a small island near its
\nshores as a detention center for a potential flood of illegal
\nimmigrants from economically troubled neighbors, a news report
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
Authorities are readying St. John's Island, a former political
\nprison, The Straits Times reported, adding that old buildings on
\nthe tiny island are being refurbished and ringed with barbed
\nwire.<\/p>\n
Instability in neighboring countries has already led to a
\nsurge in illegal immigrants looking for work in this affluent
\ncity-state, which imports much of its labor force from overseas.
\nA Hong Kong-based think-tank said yesterday that more could be on
\nthe way.<\/p>\n
With the economy worsening in Indonesia, \"the prospect of yet
\nanother wave of Indonesians trying to slip into Singapore ... has
\nrisen significantly,\" the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy
\nsaid in a report made available yesterday.<\/p>\n
Singapore fears an increase in crime as these illegal
\nforeigners swamp the country, and has conducted a series of
\nhighly-publicized nationwide raids since the start of the year
\nagainst illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n
The PERC said there are other dangers to consider: A glut of
\nsmall boats carrying illegal immigrants dangerously clogging the
\nbusy waterways around Singapore.<\/p>\n
The crowding could \"threaten the entrepot trade which forms
\nthe basis of the Singapore economy,\" the think-tank said.<\/p>\n
Singapore remains one of the busiest ports in the world, while
\nthe congested shipping lanes skirting the island republic and
\nneighboring Indonesia witness heavy traffic, occasionally leading
\nto costly accidents.<\/p>\n
\"This is quite apart from the negative international publicity
\nSingapore may bring upon itself as it attempts to stem the tide
\nby caning immigration offenders,\" the PERC report added.<\/p>\n
Illegal immigrants face up to six months jail and 12 strokes
\nof the cane if convicted of unlawful entry into the country.<\/p>\n
In April, Singapore created a special court located inside its
\nexisting immigration prison for the sole purpose of trying
\nillegal immigrants, while it has held special sessions in its
\nregular courts to try large batches of accused foreigners.<\/p>\n
The number of illegal immigrants arrested last year rose 33
\npercent to 7,600 people, a figure that is likely to be easily
\neclipsed by the end of 1998.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/island-prepared-for-immigrants-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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