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.