City starts crackdown on migrants

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite criticism, the Jakarta city administration has officially launched an operation against illegal migrants in an effort to curb urbanization.

Thamrin Ekadjati, an assistant to the city secretary, said that the raids against the illegal migrants would be conducted in slum areas, such as on the Penjaringan riverbanks and in East Ancol, North Jakarta and Pondok Kopi, East Jakarta.

"There will be action taken against illegal migrants. But it doesn't meant that Jakarta is a closed city," Thamrin told 160 officers at a ceremony at the National Monument park on Thursday.

The officers would conduct an education program, such as distributing brochures on the importance of identification, until Saturday before conducting the raids next week.

The officers would hand out the brochures to newcomers in public places in the city's five mayoralties, including Gambir Railway station and the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, he said.

Newcomers, who wanted to live here and get official identification should have several documents, including housing and job guarantees, Thamrin said.

According to Bylaw No. 1/1996 on population, newcomers who have stayed more than 14 days should have identification or be liable to a maximum sentence of three month in jail or a Rp 5 million (US$500) fine.

The administration receives Rp 1.75 billion annually from identity card registration and renewal.

Activists have criticized the planned raids against migrants as a violation of a person's right to unrestricted travel.

About 250,000 new migrants arrive in Jakarta each year, mainly after Idul Fitri celebrations.