Governor orders crackdown on illegal migrants
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso ordered the City Population Agency on Monday to conduct a crackdown on illegal migrants beginning next month, following an influx of people to the city after the Idul Fitri holiday, an official said.
"Governor Sutiyoso ordered us to conduct raids on illegal migrants as stipulated in the 1996 City Bylaw No. 1 on Residents Registration," agency head Sjahrin Lumban Toruan told reporters at City Hall.
The agency recorded 2.159 million city residents leaving town during the holiday season and some 2.3 million people returning after it.
"However, we can't say that all of the new migrants will stay in Jakarta. They will probably just pass through to other cities or visit relatives here," Sjahrin said.
He said the city currently had a population of more than 7.8 million registered residents, more than 4.7 million of which should posses a valid KTP (identity card).
The 1996 bylaw stipulates that residents must posses valid identity cards once they turn 17. Those caught without a card face a maximum three-month imprisonment or a Rp 50,000 (US$7) fine.
"We will hold Operasi Yustisia (a law enforcement operation) starting in mid-February for a month," he said.
"Usually such crackdowns cost around Rp 24 million for two- months."
He said the city administration's last identity card crackdown in 1996 netted 156,215 violators, "but only 17,565 cases were brought to court".
Sjahrin also said that his agency, in coordination with the immigration and manpower offices, would hold similar raids targeting foreigners, also in mid-February.
"Especially those from African countries, as most of them pose a threat to the city's public order and security," he said.
"We will coordinate with other offices to set the locations for these raids," he said.
Sjahrin, however, dismissed speculation that the raids were intended to stop people from entering the capital, saying there were no laws prohibiting such a thing.
"We only want to register the number of migrants. Those who want to be permanent city residents should obtain an identity card from local subdistricts," he said, while citing that migrants could also apply for a KIPEM (temporary ID card) for administrative purposes.
"Those who want to apply to be permanent city residents have to provide evidence that they already have jobs and places to live here," said Sjahrin.
"They must also possess letters of identification and recommendation of good conduct from their original local authorities.
"Those who fail to qualify we urge to return to their hometowns," he said, while adding that the agency had disseminated the information to 75 mayoralties/regencies throughout the country. (05)