'Handle foreigners with care': Mayor

JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Mayor Suprawito told subordinates foreigners in the area must be handled extra carefully because there were so many of them passing through the port.

The mayor who was officiating at the mayoralty's Coordinating Team for the Supervision of Foreigners (Sipora) yesterday, said tight monitoring of all foreigners entering, living and working in the capital city was essential.

"Proper handling of foreigners and good service to them is needed. I hope the team will deal with the problem properly," he said.

The team was also expected to speed up the legal process for foreigners charged with crimes, Suprawito said.

The coordinator of immigration affairs in North Jakarta, Moh. Iman Santoso said the team was the first ever of its kind in the capital.

The team members include Army, Navy and police officers, officials of the prosecutors' office and city population agency. (sur)