'I'am afraid of ID checks'

'I'am afraid of ID checks'

The city administration has planned to conduct a sweep against
people, especially new migrants, who do not have identity cards
(KTP), jobs or a place to stay in the city. It has been estimated
that about 250,000 new migrants enter the city every year after
the Islamic holiday of Idul Fitri. The Jakarta Post talked to
several holidaymakers after Idul Fitri, which is known locally as
Lebaran.

Jabar, 29, is a seasonal worker who comes from East Java. He
resides in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, with his family;

I'm afraid of the city administration's plan to conduct the
identity card sweep against migrants, because I haven't gotten
one since I came here ten years ago.

But I intend to get one later so that I can survive such
raids.

Luckily, I didn't ask anyone from my village to come along
with me to Jakarta. I don't want to risk newcomers' lives here
because I realize that living in Jakarta is really tough.

In a way, though, I agree with the city administration's plan
to take stern measures in an attempt to minimize migrants, who
have been the cause of many problems for the city.

Parmin, 22, has been working for three years at a garment
factory in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta. He comes from Grobogan,
Central Java:

Basically, I agree with the plan to sweep migrants who don't
have steady jobs or permanent residences. I think this is
essential in the effort to reduce unemployment and poverty in the
city.

Three years ago, I was raided as I had no ID card. I was
questioned by the police officers, but they released me when I
paid them Rp 20,000 and told them that I was working here and
lived with my family.

After that incident, I went and bought an identity card which
cost me Rp 150,000, more or less. Now I feel safe to go to work.

I agree with the city administration's plan to limit the
newcomers here. At least it will help reduce the population
density of the city.

I have recently seen several ID crackdowns on the street, but
I don't have a problem.

Joko, 29, is an employee at a private company in Tangerang. He
resides in Serpong, Tangerang, with his wife:

I disagree with the city administration's plan to conduct a
raid against migrants who do not have IDs or jobs here.

I think it's better if the government deals with the existing
societal problems in the city. Action is much more important than
issuing regulations. Besides, the stern measures here will simply
focus on the low-income people.

During my time in Jakarta, I found that most neighborhood or
community units didn't mind the newcomers, and that they weren't
serious about banning the migrants.

Besides, it's easy to get an ID card instantly, as long as we
can afford to pay about Rp 150,000 to local administration
officers and can claim that we have family and jobs here.

Over Christmas, I will return to Jakarta with some people from
my village to work on a construction job. I prefer villagers to
city people, who aren't reliable workers.

Sugeng, 31, is an electrician who resides in Pondok Gede,
Bekasi, in West Java. He originally comes from Lampung, Sumatra:

I agree with the measures being conducted by the city
administration to ban jobless migrants from coming to the city.

It's important to reduce the number of people in the city,
which contributes to crime and other negative social problems,
including rising unemployment.

Even if the migrants have jobs and relatives here, I myself
would not recommend them to come to the city.

I never persuade my family or relatives at my village to come
and work here. I used to give them the true picture of the
hardships faced here, so as to discourage them from betting their
lives in Jakarta.

If they are sure about their chances of getting a good job,
though, I'll agree to their coming to the city.