'Orchid and stick' policy on foreigners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): If you're an alien, you can expect an
\nimmigration official to hand you a corsage of orchid today. That
\nis, provided that all your immigration papers are in order.<\/p>\n
If they're not, you're in deep trouble.<\/p>\n
The Directorate General of Immigration launched a two-day
\ncampaign, code-named Orchid Operation, yesterday for on the spot
\nchecks against foreigners in Jakarta and Bali to make sure their
\npresence here is legitimate.<\/p>\n
On the first day, the immigration office caught 14 foreigners
\nin Jakarta whose papers were not in order. They had mostly
\noverstayed their visas here.<\/p>\n
They were three Americans, six Pakistanis, two Filipinos, two
\nSouth Koreans and one Sri Lankan. One of the Pakistanis managed
\nto flee while the immigration officers were sorting through his
\npapers. Some of them will be deported eventually.<\/p>\n
In Bali, the operation failed to net any illegal foreigners.<\/p>\n
But the immigration officers handed out orchids to hundreds of
\nforeigners. In Bali, they handed out more than 400 yesterday and
\nin Jakarta around 200.<\/p>\n
The operation continues today.<\/p>\n
One operation yesterday targeted Jalan Jaksa in Central
\nJakarta, which is lined with inns and dormitories catering for
\nlow-budget tourists, once known as the \"dollar a day\" visitors.<\/p>\n
Suresh, a Sri Lankan caught in Jl. Jaksa, was detained because
\nhe could only provide a photocopy of his passport to the
\nofficers. \"I am not sure where I put my passport,\" he said when
\nthe officers pressed him to produce his passport.<\/p>\n
A Filipino couple were also caught on Jl. Jaksa because they
\nhave overstayed their visas. The Filipino, who begged that their
\nnames not be disclosed by the newspapers, said that \"We had to
\nextend our stay because my wife was still under medical
\ntreatment.\"<\/p>\n
Rahardi Suroprawiro, the director of supervision and execution
\nat the Directorate General of Immigration, told reporters earlier
\nthat the weekend operation in Jakarta and Bali involved nearly
\n300 officers and would cost about Rp16 million (US$ 7,000),
\nincluding the orchids.<\/p>\n
He said the orchids were being used to soothe earlier concerns
\nthat the operation was intimidating foreign visitors to the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Rahardi said the authorities felt it was necessary to conduct
\nthe campaign in Jakarta and Bali, because during a similar
\noperation, code-named Waspada, conducted throughout the country
\nlast month, the result for Jakarta and Bali was not satisfactory.<\/p>\n
During the operation last month, the authorities only netted
\nfour foreigners in Jakarta whose papers were not in order. This,
\nhe said, was too small a number considering the number of
\nforeigners visiting the Indonesian capital.<\/p>\n
Rahardi also stressed that all foreigners in Indonesia are
\nrequired to take their passports with them wherever they go.
\nThose who reside in the country are required to bring their KIM-
\nS, which is their ID card.<\/p>\n
He said his office plans another operation in February and
\nMarch.<\/p>\n
Rahardi said the operation is not targeted at luxury hotels
\nbecause such establishments usually check the passports of their
\nforeign guests, and would inform the authorities of any
\nirregularities. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/orchid-and-stick-policy-on-foreigners-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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