ACILS says Smith was only questioned

ACILS says Smith was only questioned

JAKARTA (JP): Roger Anthony Smith of the American Center for
International Labor Solidarity (ACILS) has a valid work permit
and residence permit and was only questioned by the police for
allegedly violating existing immigration regulations,
representatives of the center said.

"He was never arrested, only questioned over the matter. Not a
single staff member of ACILS has been arrested," ACILS said in a
statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Police intelligence officers questioned the Australian
national over his alleged role in a series of street protests
here.

Col. Saleh Saaf of the National Police information unit told
reporters last week that Smith had been accused of violating
prevailing immigration regulations by participating in rallies on
labor issues and collecting data on Indonesian laborers.

"He'll be charged under Article 50 of Law No. 9/1992 on
immigration regulations. There are four other Australian
nationals whom we have held for questioning over Anthony's case,
as witnesses," he said on Thursday.

"He also does not have an SKLD (official letter from
immigration stating that the bearer has reported to immigration
after entering the country)."

The statement of ACILS, which has been working in Indonesia
for the past 25 years, said further that Smith had always obeyed
the laws and rules of Indonesia.

His lawyer, Dhananta A. Wibawa, said separately in a statement
that his client's presence in the country was legal and was
supported by the necessary work and residence permits.

"What the police have said about my client, that he was
actively involved as a provocateur and rallied in several labor
protests, is not true," Dhananta said.

"Our client was present at protests and labor trials and at
several labor activities, because it is what his work requires
him to do. It does not violate any law... our client only
observed what bad luck our laborers here have to face."

"The police are lying if they say that our client was
arrested."

According to officer Saleh, Smith was supposed to be working
as a program consultant for the health and pharmacy division of
the All-Indonesia Worker's Union (SPSI).

"Instead, he participated in meetings that discussed labor
union activities, in board meetings that tell of union problems
with businesses here, and also found time to monitor labor
rallies," he said. (ylt)