Indian embassy responds

This is with reference to the news item titled Jambi threatens to deport 355 Indian citizens in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 21, 2001.

The story is not based on facts. This embassy has discussed the issue with the immigration office in Jambi province and was informed that the 355 people of Indian origin in question had registered their names with the immigration office in 1954. Subsequently, in the 1950s and 1960s most of them became Indonesian citizens and continued to live in Indonesia.

We would request that, in future, the facts of such a case be checked first, which could include referring to the embassy, before publishing any such report. We would be happy to provide your esteemed newspaper with correct information on such matters.

A. MANICKAM

Minister

Indian Embassy, Jakarta

Note: Thank you for your correction. We had picked up the article from Antara.

--Editor