Governor orders crackdown on illegal migrants

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)