Visa policy change to go ahead despite criticism, minister says<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is likely to go ahead with its controversial plan
\nto abolish its visa-on-entry policy given to citizens of 48
\ncountries following the recent arrests of several foreigners in
\nconnection with separatism or terrorism activities in the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The move has drawn strong criticism from the business sector,
\nespecially from the tourist-related businesspeople, saying that
\nthe move would be a setback to the country's tourism sector and
\neconomic recovery process.<\/p>\n
However, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra on Saturday dismissed fears that the new policy would
\nharm the national economy, especially the tourism sector.<\/p>\n
The 48 countries include the U.S., Japan, Australia, Germany,
\nthe Netherlands, South Korea and Taiwan, which are Indonesia's
\nmajor sources of tourists and foreign investment.<\/p>\n
\"I proposed to the government three months ago that the
\ndecision to grant visas (on arrival) for nationals of 48
\ncountries be revoked. But the Bali governor and ASITA (the
\nAssociation of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies) rejected it,
\nso we have to bear such risks,\" Yusril told journalists after
\nattending a ceremony to mark the International Day of Peace at
\nhis office in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he promised to have further discussions on the
\nplan before acting on it in the near future.<\/p>\n
Yusril's remarks were in response to Vice President Hamzah
\nHaz's request Thursday for the relevant authorities to tighten
\nthe immigration system in order to prevent foreigners from making
\ntrouble in the country.<\/p>\n
Hamzah also asked Indonesian embassies abroad to selectively
\nissue visas, so that unexpected incidents involving people with
\nill-intent could be avoided.<\/p>\n
The Vice President was apparently referring to the detentions
\nof two foreign women -- 42-year old Scottish researcher Lesley
\nMcCulloch and 57-year old American volunteer Joy Lee Sadler -- in
\nrebellious Aceh.<\/p>\n
The two along with their Acehnese interpreter were nabbed by
\nsoldiers in South Aceh for misusing their tourist visas by
\nallegedly involving themselves in activities linked to the rebel
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
Also, the security authorities in the West Java town of Bogor
\nhad arrested Omar al-Faruq, reportedly a Kuwaiti citizen who was
\nbelieved to be a mid-level operative of the al-Qaeda terrorist
\nnetwork.<\/p>\n
Al-Faruq, who was deported to the United States in June, had
\nreportedly plotted to murder President Megawati Soekarnoputri, an
\naccusation that was doubted by many as she appears not to be a
\nprime opponent of fundamentalist groups here.<\/p>\n
In an addition to the al-Faruq arrest, the police in Jakarta
\nhas been detaining Seyam Reda, believed to be a German national
\nof Arab descent, since last week on charges of violating
\nimmigration rules.<\/p>\n
He is accused of undertaking activities connected with a
\nregional terrorist network.<\/p>\n
The plan to scrap the visa facility is not a new one. In late
\n1999, the government entertained the idea of abolishing it,
\narguing that it had contributed to many negative factors in the
\ncountry, including increased drug smuggling and a growing number
\nof illegal workers.<\/p>\n
The current visa arrangement was first introduced in 1983 by
\ntourism minister Joop Ave, and was meant to lure more foreign
\ntourists to the country. Under the scheme, tourists from certain
\ncountries automatically get a tourist visa valid for two months
\nupon arrival.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu ordered
\non Friday all regional military leaders, particularly those in
\nthe troubled provinces of Aceh, Maluku and Papua, to increase
\nsurveillance of foreigners.<\/p>\n
\"I have instructed provincial military commands to 'supervise'
\nthem. If they (foreigners) want to have picnics, they can go to
\nBali or other tourist areas, Why should they go to Aceh? What do
\nthey want see? It's illogical. We are in a war here,\" he said
\nwhile touring Aceh on Friday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/visa-policy-change-to-go-ahead-despite-criticism-minister-says-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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