RI evacuates nonessential embassy staff from Iraq<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has begun evacuating its non-essential
\nembassy staff and their families from Baghdad, in the face of a
\npossible U.S. attack on Iraq.<\/p>\n
The evacuation began this week, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
\nspokesman Marty Natalegawa said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In addition almost half of the 77 Indonesians living in Iraq
\nhad accepted flights home provided by the Indonesian government,
\nMarty said.<\/p>\n
"We are also preparing a contingency plan for our citizens
\nliving in Iraq's neighboring countries for an immediate
\nevacuation should the war erupt."<\/p>\n
Indonesia has around 33,000 citizens, mainly migrant workers,
\nin Middle East countries such as Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates
\nand Jordan.<\/p>\n
The contingency plan includes helping the citizens secure
\ntransit visas before returning to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"The citizens will be transferred by land to the neighboring
\ncountries, before flying back to Jakarta. That's why we need the
\ntransit visa," Marty said.<\/p>\n
He denied speculation that the contingency plan reflected a
\ndistrust of the capabilities of the countries to ensure the
\nsafety of Indonesian citizens.<\/p>\n
"In times of war we have to prepare measures to save our
\ncitizens."<\/p>\n
The country has been bracing itself for a possible attack on
\nIraq since the U.S. began flexing its muscles in the region.<\/p>\n
U.S. President George W. Bush is slated to announce its plans
\nin front of congress on Jan. 28, a day after United Nations arms
\ninspectors submit their report on Iraq's alleged possession of
\nweapons of mass destruction.<\/p>\n
The world is anticipating the worst-case scenario of Bush
\ndeclaring a war against Baghdad. The war will spark a wave of
\nanti-American opposition in Indonesia, the world's most populous
\nMuslim country.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has also prepared a task force to anticipate all
\nconsequences of the U.S. attack on Iraq. A government official
\nsaid former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. (ret). Widodo
\nA.S. would lead the task force.<\/p>\n
The official said the team would be announced next week. They
\nwill have the authority to observe all possible impacts of the
\nwar on the safety of Indonesian citizens.<\/p>\n
"The team will carry out the evacuation of our citizens in
\nIraq and its neighboring countries, and handle possible security
\ndisturbance in the country as a result of the war," the official
\ntold The Jakarta Post on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In the wake of increasing tension in Iraq and its neighboring
\ncountries, the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration has issued
\na circular ordering all labor export companies to suspend
\noperations to the Middle East from Feb. 1. The circular says
\ncompanies who violate the order will be punished.<\/p>\n
Minister Jacob Nuwa Wea said on Wednesday the decision was
\ntaken after consulting with Indonesian ambassadors to Middle East
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
But the move has raised the eyebrows of ambassadors of some
\nMiddle East countries in Indonesia, according to chief patron of
\nthe Indonesian Employing Agencies Association (Idea) Malik Aliun.<\/p>\n
Malik said Wednesday he had met the foreign envoys following
\nthe release of the circular and had been assured the countries
\nwould provide security guarantees for Indonesian workers during
\nany war.<\/p>\n
"They could understand if the policy applies only in Iraq,"
\nMalik said.<\/p>\n
He said there should have been no fear of continuing labor
\nexports to Middle East countries as it was business as usual
\nthere, with haj pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia continuing and no
\ncommercial flights to the Middle East suspended.<\/p>",
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