Airport quarantine officials stretched to the limit

Airport quarantine officials stretched to the limit

TANGERANG (JP): Holding a myna bird, a Saudi Arabian was about
to cross the first check-in control gate in the departure lounge
at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport when he was stopped by
airport security guards.

Minutes later, he was being interviewed by the airport's
animal quarantine officials. The officers, who work for the
Ministry of Agriculture, asked the man to produce the documents
required to carry his pet overseas.

Aware that to obtain the correct papers would require
considerable time and that his flight was about to leave, the
Saudi man became very upset.

He then grabbed the bird and twisted its neck, right in front
of the quarantine officials.

"We were all stunned by what he did to the bird," recalled the
head of the airport's Animal Quarantine Office, Lukas A. Tonga.

The Saudi then stormed out of the quarantine office and later
boarded his flight, leaving the officers to dispose of the dead
bird.

A repeat of this 1997 incident took place in August this year,
when another Saudi Arabian wrung a cockatoo's neck in the
boarding lounge at the airport.

"He turned mad when we told him that he had to get certain
documents for the bird," Adang Asikin from the quarantine office
said.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post on Friday, the
quarantine officials said they could understand the Saudis'
wrath, saying that enforcement of quarantine regulations came as
a surprise to many people visiting here.

Unaware

The two men argued that they were unaware of the regulations
and thought the birds, purchased easily on the street, could be
taken out of the country without any restrictions.

"Even if the animals are not protected species, those who
intend to carry them should obtain a permit from the Directorate
General of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation. The
regulations also apply to stuffed animals," Lukas said.

Strictly protected species, such as orangutan and birds of
paradise, require the written permission of the President, he
added.

Animals must be taken to the airport's quarantine center for a
health check at least two days before departure along with the
correct documents.

"That's all," Lukas said, giving his guarantee that the
process would only take several minutes if the animals proved to
be in good health.

The fee, at between Rp 100 and Rp 200 per animal, is
relatively cheap.

"But sometimes people give us Rp 5,000 or Rp 10,000," Lukas
said.

The process is slightly different with animals from overseas
because Lukas and his staff have to spend between 14 and 90 days
observing animals brought into the country.

"It's not easy because our country is free of a number of
animal diseases, including foot and mouth disease, and we have to
be careful they do not get into the country," said Wawan Sutian,
one of six veterinarians at the airport's animal quarantine
center.

Sometimes the officials are unable to enforce the rules
strictly.

Last August, for example, a young blind Frenchman flying to
Bali transited in Jakarta and was questioned by quarantine
officials about his dog.

"He showed us a letter from our ambassador there (in France)
which said that the man had to be helped," Adang recalled.

"But the law here must be obeyed, so we questioned him but
later released him because he insisted that he could only go for
a good sight seeing trip in Bali with his dog," he said.

Wawan said the methods adopted by the smugglers of live
animals, animal meat and parts, and stuffed animals change from
time to time.

In March this year, a Japanese citizen identified as Koji
Karita was caught at the airport with 25 baby lorises (Nicticebus
coucang), one wildcat kitten (Felis marmorata) and two baby
crocodiles in his possession.

"He was about to board a flight back to Japan and had
concealed the animals in specially-designed bags hidden in the
lining of his jacket," Wawan said.

Few records

This year, the airport's quarantine officers have foiled only
12 smugglers, including two bringing animals into the country.
Last year cases totaled 11, including five involving imports, and
officials believe the number that get away must be very much
greater.

"You know we have just 24 operational staff divided into three
working groups," said Lukas, adding that they were also supported
by airport security.

He admitted they could do nothing more than act as a "fire
fighting brigade" and go to the scene only when called.

They also questioned why many cases they hand over to police
never reach court.

Last year, for example, only one case was taken to court, and
the same pitiful figure applies this year.

"We don't know why, but all cases we hand over to the police
never reach court, even those where we provide the animals as
evidence" he added.

Last year, quarantine officials proved themselves to be
unwilling to bend the regulations for anyone.

In July 1997, they put down eight Sudan deer (Gazelle dorcase)
sent to former president Soeharto while he was still in post.

"The deer were a gift from the Sudanese chief of the Armed
Forces," Lukas said, adding that Soeharto was aware of the need
for their course of action.

"We don't care who the owners or exporters are," Adang added.

In October last year, they also destroyed a large consignment
of skulls of African wild animals imported by a company owned by
lawyer Yapto Soerjosoemarno.

"We're proud of this job," Lukas said. (bsr)