Hassan criticizes U.S. immigration profiling policy

Hassan criticizes U.S. immigration profiling policy

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta considers Washington's policy, which obliges Indonesian
males age 16 and over currently staying in the U.S. to register
themselves with immigration authorities as discriminatory and
unfriendly.

"The new policy is discriminatory, arbitrary, and unacceptable
for Indonesia ... it sends the wrong signal to the war against
terrorism as we all know that Indonesia, and the U.S., have both
been victim to acts of terrorism," Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday.

He added that only North Korea, of the 22 countries whose
citizens had to register with U.S. immigration offices, was a
non-Muslim country, indicating that the policy discriminated
against Muslims.

"Washington's decision will be damaging, especially in the
light of the global situation on the Iraq and Palestinian
issues," Hassan remarked.

Washington included Indonesia, on Friday, on the list of
countries whose male citizens over 16 years old and living in the
U.S. would have to report to the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) and notify the office about their presence
periodically.

The regulation, however, does not apply to Indonesian women,
males under 16 years old and green card holders, or those with
permanent residence status or a diplomatic passport.

Most of those required to register are currently in the U.S.
as students or business travelers, or are visiting relatives.

Registration will be from Feb. 24 through March 28,
nationwide.

"Those who do not have the necessary documentation should
consider going home. The government also suggests that those
wishing to travel to the U.S. reconsider their plans for the time
being," Hassan said.

The minister also revealed that President Megawati
Soekarnoputri had conveyed Indonesia's concern about the
registration requirements to visiting U.S. envoy to Asia James A.
Kelly on Friday.

"The Indonesian government will closely monitor the
implementation of the decision, especially to prevent possible
mistreatment of our citizens during the registration period," she
added.

Jakarta also warned on Friday that the new U.S. policy
affecting Indonesian citizens and a possible attack on Iraq in
the coming weeks would likely jeopardize bilateral relations
between the two countries.

Washington has been accused of targeting Islam in its fight
against terrorism, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
against New York and the Pentagon in 2001.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, was
rocked by anti-Western protests when the U.S.-led coalition
struck Afghanistan, accused of harboring Sept. 11 mastermind
Osama bin Laden.

The public protested the Indonesian government's support of
Washington's attack on Afghanistan, which is a predominantly
Muslim country.

Iraq, another Muslim country, is likely to be the next target
as Washington has insisted that Baghdad has weapons of mass
destruction and must be disarmed.

In the meeting, Megawati underlined that an attack would have
a huge impact on the country's domestic politics and another wave
of anti-Western sentiment would likely emerge as a result.

"All of those factors, should they not be handled properly,
could possibly damage relations with the U.S.," Hassan quoted
Megawati as saying.

The minister emphasized that the President also highlighted
the presence of 33,000 Indonesian citizens in Middle Eastern
countries as another matter of concern to Jakarta should war
start.

With respect to Megawati's complaints, Kelly said briefly, "A
number of points made by the President will be taken back to
Washington."