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.