Visa-free facility to be scrapped<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: The government is determined to scrap the visa-free
\nfacility accorded to nationals of 48 countries in an effort to
\nprevent more of its misuse, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirajuda said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We are going to review it,\" he told journalists after
\naccompanying President Megawati Soekarnoputri in a meeting with
\nvisiting Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar from Mongolia at the
\nState Palace.<\/p>\n
Critics have said the visa's revocation could significantly
\nreduce the number of foreign tourists and businesspeople visiting
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Hassan said many foreign visitors had misused the facility to
\nengage in questionable activities, such as roaming the jungles of
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
A Scottish academic and an American nurse, both female, along
\nwith their interpreter, were arrested in Aceh last month and are
\nin police custody. They may face charges of violating their
\nvisas.<\/p>\n
The two women have also been accused of possessing documents
\nconcerning the rebel Free Aceh Movement (GAM), but both have
\ndenied the charge. --JP<\/p>",
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