Government to target illegal aliens

Government to target illegal aliens

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta

Amid the heat of Malaysia's plan to deport Indonesian illegal
migrant workers, the government has set up a task force not only
to deal with its responsibilities in the mass deportation, but
also to handle illegal migrants in the country.

Interim coordinating minister of social welfare Malik Fadjar
denied on Monday suggestions that the task force's establishment
was an act of retaliation against Malaysia's planned deportation
of Indonesian illegal migrants.

"It's just that we have to put in order the many illegal
migrants here," he said after a Cabinet meeting, during which
reports from the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) on illegal
aliens had been presented.

The task force's duties related to the mass deportation is
part of the government's preparations for the expected
repatriation of some tens of thousands of workers from Malaysia.

The two countries have reached an agreement on the planned
deportation, including shared costs and responsibilities in the
gradual return of at least 500,000 workers. The deportation has
been scheduled to take place after September's presidential
runoff.

In regards illegal aliens in the country, Malik said foreign
nationals without proper immigration documents were found in
Cisarua, West Java, among other areas, including refugees from
Middle Eastern countries.

Malik was quick to add that nationals of many other countries
were also "working illegally" in Indonesia, but did not
elaborate.

He said a suggestion to deal with foreign illegal workers was
raised at the Cabinet meeting, and further discussion would
follow on whether raids would be made on suspected foreigners --
as was done in Malaysia.

Foreign nationals seeking to work in the country are required
to obtain several documents and references from the employing
companies for immigration purposes. The government also levies
companies US$100 monthly per foreign employee.

Ministry of Manpower data for 2003 shows 16,662 foreign
professionals registered in the country, including some 7,000 in
Jakarta.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is slated to issue a
presidential decree on the structure, operation and function of
the task force once the foreign ministry submits a draft to the
State Secretariat.

Malik said the two countries will finance the deportation
jointly, with Malaysia providing RM140 (US$35) and Indonesia Rp
300,000 (US$33.3) for each worker.

"We will provide the fund from the state emergency budget,"
State Minister of Communications and Information Syamsul Muarif
said.