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)