Illegal migration a 'global threat'
Illegal migration a 'global threat'
Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua
The surge in illegal migration, partially due to human
trafficking by organized crime syndicates, is posing a serious
threat to world security, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Hamid Awaluddin says.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the Fourth Asia-Europa
Director General Meeting on the Management of Migratory Flows,
the minister said the activities of transnational organized crime
syndicates facilitated and exacerbated problems related to
illegal migration.
"Transnational criminal networks are not only engaged in the
smuggling of people, including women and children, but are also
involved in a long list of other criminal activities such as
document fraud, money laundering, the trafficking of narcotics
and arms smuggling," Hamid said.
He said the syndicates were linked to an international terror
network.
"Indonesia is aware of, and very much alert to, the dangers
posed by migratory flows. It is clear that terrorist attacks
carried out in recent times involved foreign nationals," he said.
Due to closer cooperation and concerted efforts among Asia-
Europe Meeting (ASEM) member countries and other international
agencies, Indonesia has been able to curb the number of illegal
migrants from 4,000 to 300 people a year, the minister added.
The three-day meeting is co-sponsored by China, Denmark, the
United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain and the European
Commission. The Bali meeting follows up recommendations made
during the third ASEM in the Hague in November last year.
Attending the meeting are representatives from the European
Commission and 38 ASEM partners, including Austria, Belgium,
ASEAN countries, Japan, Korea, Denmark, France, the United
Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Slovenia, Slovak, Italy and Ireland.
The participants are expected to discuss the best practices
and recent trends in the management of migratory flows,
particularly issues on immigration information sharing;
cooperation in enhancing border control management and
cooperation in migration management.
The panel will also debate the issue of unrecognized refugee
status.
The Hague meeting had recommended follow-up discussions on
document security in combating illegal migration and human
trafficking, including the implementation of biometric technology
schedules.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Director General of
Immigration Iman Santoso said Indonesia would start implementing
biometric technology for travel document security next year.
"Passport holders will be identified physically, including by
their eyes, footprints and face. All data will be made available
to the country of destination," he said.
The meeting, he said, would also discuss the possibility of
setting up a hotline system for immigration officials of ASEM
member countries. It would deal with the improvement of the
passport and visa systems, and advance passenger assessment,
including an airline database connection at every airport in
member countries.