Crackdown on illegal migrants to continue

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said yesterday the city would continue raids to curb the number of newcomers to Jakarta during Ramadhan and Idul Fitri.

"We will continue the operation even though it is Ramadhan," Surjadi said after inaugurating a pilot handicraft industry project at City Hall.

The City Population Office estimates 3.5 million Jakartans go to their hometowns every year for Idul Fitri, and return with 300,000 relatives and friends looking for work.

Meanwhile Deputy Governor R.S. Museno predicted the number of newcomers this year would rise or at least be similar to last year.

Last year, the city recorded about 300,000 newcomers after Idul Fitri, he said.

He said newcomers usually took advantage of the religious event and many ended up as street vendors, beggars or vagabonds.

He said illegal residents could be found on street intersections, in mosques, cemeteries and other public places.

"Fortunately, not all newcomers remain in the city after the fasting month and Idul Fitri. Some return to their hometowns," Museno said.

But it was difficult to curb the influx, he said.

"It's impossible to drive them away just like that from the city if we don't find them violating regulations," Museno said.

If illegal residents violated regulations, like not having proper identification, they would be sent back to their hometowns, he said.

In 1993, almost 315,000 newcomers entered Jakarta. However, the City Population Office has never provided accurate records on how many settled in Jakarta and how many went home.

Surjadi said recently the only way to curb the influx was by enforcing the provincial decree on population.

The decree stipulates newcomers must have documents like letters guaranteeing employment and accommodation in Jakarta. Without such documents newcomers are not allowed to live in Jakarta which already has nine million people.

People with the correct documents can get temporary residential identification cards which are valid for six months. They can then get permanent Jakarta identification cards.

The city has issued about 75,000 new identification cards for newcomers each year since 1989.

Surjadi said most newcomers were unskilled and found it hard to survive in Jakarta.

City Public Order Office data showed last year there were 259 legal sites for the 9,356 vendors with valid Jakarta citizenship cards. The office estimated there were 40,956 illegal vendors. Among the illegal vendors 20,163 had valid identification cards but operated at illegal sites like on sidewalks. (ste/02)