Australian questioned over street protests

Australian questioned over street protests

JAKARTA (JP): Police intelligence officers are questioning an
Australian national over his alleged participation in a number of
street protests here, Col. Saleh Saaf of the National Police
information unit said on Thursday.

Saleh said the suspect, identified as Roger Anthony Smith of
the American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS),
had violated existing 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.

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

Saleh added that Anthony was supposed to be working as a
program consultant for the health and pharmacy division of the
All-Indonesia Labor Union (SPSI).

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

As a result, police confiscated Anthony's passport and his
temporary residence identification card (Kitas), before arresting
him over immigration violations. (ylt)