17 foreigners caught for immigration violations

JAKARTA (JP): Immigration officers detained 15 Africans and two Indians for permit violations during raids on three different spots in the capital on Tuesday.

Coordinator of Jakarta immigration affairs, Hamsuk S. Wijaya, who led the five-hour operation which began at 9 a.m., said 13 Africans were netted in Palmerah, West Jakarta, two others in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, and the Indian nationals in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. Two of the Africans are women.

"We'll deport the aliens soon, immediately after the questioning of them is completed," Hamsuk told reporters who were invited to cover the sweep.

Supported by dozens of local police officers, they caught the people in rented houses and small hotels.

He said the 15 Africans were from Nigeria, Congo, Ghana and Somalia.

Their alleged offenses include visa overstays, lack of travel documents and infractions of permit limitations, Hamsuk said.

The Africans tried to escape during the raid but the immigration officers with the help of the police managed to catch them, he added.

They are being questioned at immigration offices in the three respective mayoralties.

Hamsuk said the raids were carried out based on complaints from the public that many foreigners, particularly Africans, were involved in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, counterfeiting and robbery.

"Governor Sutiyoso asked us to take care of the foreigners and conduct the raid," he said.

During a series of raids last month, immigration officers netted at least 60 foreigners, mostly Africans, for similar reasons.

When asked about trends in passport applications in line with a predicted exodus ahead of the June general election, Hamsuk characterized them as "still normal" with about 100 passports issued per day.

"I don't see anything unusual so far, such as the possible exodus due to the election."

In the days following last May riots, he said, his office issued from 300 to 400 passports daily as people fled the country. (jun)