Security body to help govt in haj affairs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Concerned by the numerous problems in the
\ndispatching of 195,000 Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, the
\ngovernment decided yesterday to involve a security coordinating
\nbody to make the ongoing operation run more smoothly.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
\nSoesilo Soedarman said after leading a special limited cabinet
\nmeeting that the Agency for the Coordination of Support for the
\nDevelopment of National Stability (Bakorstanas) is ready to be
\ndeployed.<\/p>\n
He did not specify how the agency could help matters.<\/p>\n
The Director General of Islamic and Haj Affairs Ahmad Gozali
\ntold The Jakarta Post, however, that the agency has actually been
\ninvolved all along. The agency officials, for instance, have been
\ndeployed to maintain security in the operation, he said.<\/p>\n
The first days of the operation, which started last Saturday,
\nwere marked with chaos when thousands of prospective pilgrims had
\nto cancel their departures because of lack of visas. A number of
\npilgrims reacted to these trials and tribulations by
\ndemonstrating at some haj offices.<\/p>\n
Tensions dissipated markedly after the Saudi Arabian embassy
\ncompleted issuing the visas on Thursday. Reports about problems
\nin the dispatching of pilgrims at some regions were still coming
\nin, however.<\/p>\n
\"Now the condition has improved greatly,\" Ahmad said,
\nsignaling that the security agency's involvement is no longer
\nneeded. \"Even if they are still deployed, it's only as a
\nprecaution.\"<\/p>\n
Soesilo described the magnitude of responsibilities involved
\nin the operation. \"Sending out all these pilgrims is like
\ndispatching 20 troop divisions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The job requires perfect coordination from all institutions
\ninvolved, he added. \"Proper approaches should be employed at all
\nlevels, from regional haj affairs offices to embarkation points,\"
\nSoesilo said.<\/p>\n
He conceded that many flaws have crept in and that, from now
\non, every detail of the operation has to be re-examined and
\nimproved.<\/p>\n
\"Even small problems can get out of hand and become big
\nproblems unless proper solutions are found promptly,\" he said.
\n\"It's like a chronic illness\".<\/p>\n
Commenting on the numerous cancellations and delays of
\nflights, as well as other glitches, which occurred in the
\noperation over the past week, Soesilo said better job definitions
\nare definitely needed.<\/p>\n
He suggested, among other things, that an official be
\nappointed to process the passports of passengers belonging to one
\nflight.<\/p>\n
Meticulous attention to detail would prevent officials from
\nengaging in a game of pass-the-blame when things go wrong, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The hour-long meeting was also attended by Chief of the Armed
\nForces Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Transportation Haryanto
\nDhanutirto and Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher.<\/p>\n
Tarmizi ducked out when reporters approached him for comments.<\/p>\n
The Antara news agency reported from Banjarmasin, South
\nKalimantan, that at least 160 seats were left vacant yesterday
\nbecause the pilgrims had yet to receive their visas. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/security-body-to-help-govt-in-haj-affairs-1447893297",
"image": ""
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